Electrochemical synthesis of poly(3-bromo-4-methoxythiophene) and its device application

A functionalized thiophene containing both an electron withdrawing and an electron donating group, 3-bromo-4-methoxythiophene (BrMeOTh) was succesfully polymerized in acetonitrile containing 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBABF4) electrolyte via electrochemical oxidation of the corresponding monomer. BrMeOTh exhibits a lower oxidation potential (1.68 V vs Ag/AgCl) than thiophene (2.05 V vs Ag/AgCl). Spectroelectrochemical properties of poly(3-bromo-4-methoxythiophene) (PBrMeOTh) was investigated in situ recording the electronic absorption spectra of the polymer film coated on indium-tin oxide (ITO) at various potentials. The maximum transmittance difference between the oxidized and reduced states was measured as 39.2% and the time required to attain 90% of the total transmittance difference was found to be 1.2 s. Both cyclic voltammetric and spectroelectrochemical studies showed that the polymer exhibit a lower oxidation potential, a relatively narrow band gap, a stable conducting state and a higher degree of electrochemical reversibility. It is also found that, as synthesized PBrMeOTh films possess a linear structure along the polymer backbone. Moreover, dual type electrochromic device of PBrMeOTh with poly(3,4-diethylenedioxythiohene) (PEDOT) was constructed and its spectroelectrochemical, electrochromic switching and open circuit stability were investigated. Dual electrochromic device showed a good optical contrast and distinctive color changes with the ability of good switching times (1.1 s) under atmospheric pressure.