Electropolymerization of an EDOT-modified diarylethene

A diarylethene substituted with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) was synthesized to induce electrochemical anodic polymerization. Upon electrochemical oxidation of 1,2-bis(2-methylbenzo[b]thiophene-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene (BTF)-substituted EDOT at the 6,6′-position (BTFTT), a red-purple polymeric film (PBTFTT) was deposited on a working electrode. A similar film was deposited on an electrode from the solution exposed to UV light through electrochemical oxidation. The film growth was controlled by the cycle numbers in cyclic voltammetry during the electropolymerization. The film thickness was linearly correlated to the potential cycle numbers, with a slope of 17.9 nm/cycle. The IR spectrum of the electrodeposited polymer showed characteristic CC stretching frequency at 1630 and 1481 cm−1 indicating that the BTF units in the polymer are closed.

Graphical abstractDownload full-size image