Synthesis, characterization and electrochromic properties of a near infrared active conducting polymer of 1,4-di(selenophen-2-yl)-benzene

A novel selenophene-based monomer, 1,4-di(selenophen-2-yl)-benzene (DSB), was synthesized via Stille coupling reaction of 1,4-dibromobenzene and tributyl(2-selenophenyl)stannane. Conducting polymer (PDSB) was prepared electrochemically in the presence of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TBAPF6) as the supporting electrolyte in dichloromethane (DCM). The resulting conducting polymer was characterized by Cyclic Voltammetry, Fourier Transform Infrared and Ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy. Spectroelectrochemistry analysis and kinetic studies of PDSB revealed a π-π∗ transition at 340 nm with a striking and rapid (0.6 s) transmittance change (35%), at near infrared region (1250 nm), indicating that PDSB is a very suitable near infrared electrochromic material.