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A Solution‐Processable (Tetraaniline‐ b ‐Polyethylene Glycol) 3 Star‐Shaped Rod‐Coil Block Copolymer with Enhanced Electrochromic Properties
Author(s) -
Cao Linyu,
Gong Chen,
Yang Jiping
Publication year - 2016
Publication title -
macromolecular rapid communications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.348
H-Index - 154
eISSN - 1521-3927
pISSN - 1022-1336
DOI - 10.1002/marc.201500564
Subject(s) - materials science , copolymer , electrochromism , ethylene glycol , polymer chemistry , fourier transform infrared spectroscopy , indium tin oxide , chemical engineering , thin film , analytical chemistry (journal) , polymer , nanotechnology , composite material , organic chemistry , chemistry , electrode , engineering
A novel electroactive star‐shaped rod‐coil copolymer composed of a benzene core and three symmetrically positioned tetraaniline‐b‐poly(ethylene glycol) arms, (TAni‐ b ‐PEG) 3 rod‐coil block copolymer, is synthesized successfully and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV–vis, 1 H NMR, and matrix‐assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Uniform and high‐quality (TAni‐ b ‐PEG) 3 thin films onto indium tin oxide‐coated glass surface are fabricated simply from its DMF solution. Resulting (TAni‐ b ‐PEG) 3 copolymer thin films possess excellent electrochromic properties with a high optical contrast of 73.3%, superb coloration efficiency of 318.5 cm 2 C −1 at 750 nm. Very short switching times, that is, 2.11 s and 2.14 s for coloring and bleaching times, respectively, are observed as well. The mechanism of these impressive electrochromic properties of (TAni‐ b ‐PEG) 3 thin films possessed is proposed based on the atomic force microscopy investigation, star‐shaped molecular geometry, synergetic electronic and ionic conductivity and amphiphilic self‐assembly feature of (TAni‐ b ‐PEG) 3 copolymer, which can self‐assemble to form cylinder pattern consisting of quick pathways for electronic charges and ionic species, respectively.