Electrochemical and electrochromic properties of two novel polymers containing carbazole and phenyl-methanone units

Two new electrochromic materials consisting of carbazole and phenyl-methanone units, 4-(9H-carbazol-9-yl)-phenyl-methanone (CPM) and 4-(3,6-di(thiophen-2-yl)-9H-carbazol-9-yl)-phenyl-methanone (TCPM), were synthesized and characterized. Both the compounds show well-defined oxidation and reduction processes. Spectroelectrochemical analysis reveals that their polymers display reasonable optical contrast (25%, 41%) and fast switching time (3 s, 2 s). Cyclic voltammogram study confirms that the polymer with the existence of thiophene units is more stable in electrochemical environment.

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► Two novel compounds, CPM and TCPM, were synthesized successfully, and their polymers were obtained by electrochemical method.
► The PCPM film showed reasonable optical contrast and two colors under different potentials.
► The PTCPM film not only displayed good optical contrast and different colors, but also possessed better stability.