Synthesis and characterization of electrochromic [Ru(terpy)2 selenophene]-based polymer film

•Synthesis of a new selenophene-functionalized terpyridine-Ru complex.•Electrodeposition via electrochemical oxidation and coupling of selenophene units in trifluoroborate etherate.•Electrochemical, spectroscopic and morphological characterization of deposit.•Electrochromic behavior evidenced.

For the first time, a terpyridine ligand bearing a selenophene ring at position 4′ was synthesized. It was then used to prepare an homoleptic Ru(II) complex with two pendant heterocycles that can undergo electrochemical polymerization to form a metallopolymer with metallic centres inside the backbone, each metallic units being connected via a diselenophene bridge. At the electrode surface, the polymer is present as a red thin film and was characterized by different analytical techniques, such as electrochemistry, XPS and AFM. Preliminary results show that the film exhibit electrochromism turning from red to yellow, a property that could be interesting for the design of functional materials.

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