Electrochromic properties of a novel low band gap conjugated copolymer based on 1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-naphthalene and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene

1,4-Bis(2-thienyl)-naphthalene (BTN) monomer is successfully synthesized via coupling reaction. A novel copolymer based on 1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-naphthalene (BTN) and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) is electrochemically synthesized and characterized. Characterizations of the resulting copolymer P(BTN-co-EDOT) are performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV–vis spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetry (TG). At the neutral state of the copolymer, the π–π* transition absorption peak is located at 515 nm and the optical band gap (Eg) is calculated as 1.73 eV. Spectroelectrochemical analysis reveals that the copolymer film has distinct electrochromic properties from that of the BTN homopolymer film and shows six different colors under various potentials. The copolymer film shows a maximum optical contrast (ΔT%) of 48.4% at 504 nm with a response time of 0.88 s and of 45.2% at 770 nm with a response time of 0.84 s. An electrochromic device (ECD) based on P(BTN-co-EDOT) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) is constructed and characterized. The optical contrast (ΔT%) at 645 nm is found to be 21.1% and response time is measured as 0.41 s. The coloration efficiency (CE) of the device is calculated to be 154 cm2 C−1 at 645 nm.

► A novel electrochromic copolymer based on 1,4-bis(2-thienyl)-naphthalene and 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene was electrochemically synthesized and characterized.
► The resultant copolymer film displayed distinct color changes between six different colors with good switching times and optical contrast.
► The dual type electrochromic device based on the copolymer and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) displayed multichromism, quick switching time and good stability.