From Narrow to Narrower: A Very Low Band Gap [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline-Based Donor-Acceptor-Donor Type Electrochromic Polymer

Abstract

The development of low bandgap polymers (or zero bandgap polymers) is still one of the main goals of scientists and many viable paths have been formulated in order to accomplish this. In this study, a donor-acceptor-donor type electrochromic polymer based on [1,2,5]thiadiazolo[3,4-g]quinoxaline acceptor and selenophene donor units with extremely low bandgap (ranging from 0.21 to 0.60 eV depending on bandgap determination method) is synthesized and characterized electrochemically, optically and colorimetrically. Electrochemical and optical studies showed that the polymer film was susceptible to both n- and p-type doping and has a mustard color in its neutral state, and upon oxidation its color changed to brown, and upon reduction the color is light purple. (C) 2017 The Electrochemical Society. All rights reserved.