cm8b01765_si_001.pdf (3.31 MB)
Electrochromic Polymers Processed from Environmentally Benign Solvents
journal contribution
posted on 2018-07-23, 20:44 authored by Graham
S. Collier, Ian Pelse, Anna M. Österholm, John R. ReynoldsThe ability to process
conjugated polymers from environmentally
benign solvents is essential for making organic electronics commercially
viable by reducing costs and enhancing safety in the printing and
processing environment. To enhance the solubility of typically alkyl-functionalized
redox-active and electrochromic polymers, poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophenes)
with ester-functionalized side chains were synthesized via direct
arylation polymerization, resulting in polymers that are processable
from 2-methyltetrahydrofuran, ethyl acetate, and propyl acetate.
Optical and atomic force microscopy results of spray-processed films
indicate that topological features, such as film roughness, can be
manipulated via the vapor pressure of the processing
solvent. The solvent choice affects the resulting onset of absorbance
and relative intensities of vibronic features, which translates
into distinctly observable and quantifiable color differences.
While the color is sensitive to the casting solvent,
the redox properties and onset of oxidation are fairly independent
of the processing medium. Most notably, electrochromic properties,
such as contrast and switching times, are not drastically affected
by the casting solvent or underlying morphologies. Independent of
casting solvent, each polymer exhibited a transmittance change greater
than 70% at λmax in the oxidized state with switching
speeds of ∼2 s for 2 cm2 films in organic
electrolytes. This work highlights the synthetic tailorability of
the poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) family of materials to
introduce functional groups that improve processability without sacrificing
electrochromic performance.
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redox propertieselectrochromic performancevia vapor pressureintensities vibronic featurespropyl acetatethe colorEnvironmentally Benign Solvents2 cm 2 filmsλ maxprocessing environmentforce microscopy resultstopological featuresElectrochromic Polymers Processedprocessing mediumelectrochromic propertiesfilm roughnessspray-processed filmsester-functionalized side chainsoxidation are2 cmonsetalkyl-functionalized redox-activearylation polymerizationelectrochromic polymersquantifiable differencestransmittance change
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