Electroactive self-doped poly(amic acid) with oligoaniline and sulfonic acid groups: Synthesis and electrochemical properties

•A novel poly(amic acid) bearing aniline tetramer and sulfonic acid groups was synthesized.•The novel poly(amic acid) exhibits excellent electrochemical activity in pH = 1–10.•The obtained poly(amic acid) exhibits good electrochromic performance even in alkaline solutions.

A novel poly(amic acid) with pendant aniline tetramer and sulfonic acid groups (ESPAA) was synthesized by ternary polymerization and characterized by Fourier-transform infrared spectra, 1H NMR and gel permeation chromatography. The polymer showed good thermal stability and excellent solubility in the common organic solvents. The electrochemical properties were investigated carefully on a CHI 660A Electrochemical Workstation. The polymer displayed good electroactivity in acid, neutral and even in alkaline solutions (pH = 1–10) due to the self-doping effect between aniline tetramer and sulfonic/carboxylic acid groups. It also exhibited satisfactory electrochromic performance with high contrast value, acceptable coloration efficiency and fast switching time in the range of pH = 1–9.

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