Low-potential electrosynthesis of novel electroactive poly(9-fluorenemethanol) and its electrochromic and blue-light-emitting properties

In this paper we describe the electropolymerization of 9-fluorenemethanol (FMO) in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate, which leads to low-potential electrodeposition of semiconducting poly(9-fluorenemethanol) (PFMO) film under optimized conditions. The as-formed PFMO film shows favorable solubility in common organic solvents, good redox activity and stability with a conductivity of 10−2 S cm−1, good thermal stability, and uniform morphology. Besides, PFMO exhibits electrochromic nature with its color changing from pale brown in its reduced form to dark blue upon oxidation, but its electrochromic performances are relatively poor. Fluorescence spectral studies demonstrated that soluble PFMO is highly fluorescent with its maximum emission at 418 nm and a quantum yield of 0.52, and it can emit bright blue light under 365 nm UV light irradiation.

► The electropolymerization of 9-fluorenemethanol (FMO) was reported.
► Semiconducting poly(9-fluorenemethanol) (PFMO) film was electrosynthesized.
► PFMO shows favorable solubility and good redox activity and stability.
► PFMO exhibits electrochromic nature from pale brown to dark blue.
► PFMO is highly fluorescent with its emission at 418 nm and a quantum yield of 0.52.