Solution-processable thiophene-based electrochromic polymers bearing trifluoromethyl rather than long side chains

• Thiophene-based electrochromic polymers bearing trifluoromethyl have been designed and synthesized.
• The polymers without long side chains show better thermal stability compared with non-fluorine EC soluble polymers.
• The novel series polymers have proven to provide a new strategy to design electrochromic conjugated polymers.

A series of novel thiophene-based electrochromic (EC) polymers bearing trifluoromethyl group were designed and synthesized. Without long-chain alkyl or alkoxy group attached, the polymers still exhibit good solubility in conventional organic solvents, and much better thermal stability comparing with conventional non-fluorine EC soluble polymers. Optical, electrochemical, spectroelectrochemical and electrochromic switching properties of the polymers are characterized in detail as well as the solubility and thermal stability. Combining comprehensive properties of fluorine-containing molecules and electrochromic conjugated polymers, the polymers reported here are proven to provide a new strategy to design novel electrochromic conjugated polymers.

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