Facile and economical synthesis of high-contrast multielectrochromic copolymers based on anthracene and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene via electrocopolymerization in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate

Copolymers based on anthracene and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) are successfully electrodeposited on ITO electrodes in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). The resultant copolymers are characterized by cyclic voltammetry (CV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and spectroelectrochemical analysis. The copolymer films can present multicolor electrochromism under various applied potentials and the color change can be tuned through controlling the feed ratio of anthracene/EDOT. With the feed ratio of anthracene/EDOT at 1/4, the prepared copolymer shows a maximum optical contrast of 82% at 503 nm which is much near to the highest optical contrast of electrochromic materials. The switching time and coloration efficiency at 507 nm are 2.3 s and 278 cm C−1, respectively. Furthermore, the copolymer exhibits excellent electrochemical stability which retains 89.8% of its original electroactivity after 2000 cycles.

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► We prepared copolymers based on anthracene and EDOT in BFEE solution.
► The copolymer film exhibits multicolor electrochromism and tunable color change with the feed ratio.
► The copolymer prepared with the feed ratio of anthracene/EDOT at 1/4 has a maximum optical contrast of 82% at 503 nm.
► The copolymer film presents reasonable switching response, good color retaining ability and electrochemical stability.