Electrochemical and optical properties of dicyclohexylmethyl substituted poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) analogue

Abstract

An analogue of disubstituted 3,4-propylenedioxythiophenes, namely 3,3-bis(cyclohexylmethyl)-3,4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4-b][1,4]dioxepin (ProDOT-CycHex(2)), was synthesized and its electrochemical polymerization was carried out successfully in an electrolyte solution of 0.1 M tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate dissolved in a mixture of acetonitrile and dichloromethane (3/1: v/v). The corresponding polymer called PProDOT-CycHex(2) has a reduced band gap of 1.85 eV and an electrochromic property: blue/violet when neutralized and highly transparent when oxidized. Also, PProDOT-CycHex(2) film exhibited faster response time (0.7 s) and higher coloration efficiency (769 cm(2)/C) during oxidation when compared to its benzyl substituted analogue. (c) 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2018, 135, 46214.