Synthesis and electropolymerization of 1,2-bis(thiophen-3-ylmethoxy)benzene and its electrochromic properties and electrochromic device application

A new thiophene-based monomer; 1,2-bis(thiophen-3-ylmethoxy)benzene (BTMB) has been synthesized and chemical structure of the monomer was characterized. Polymerization of BTMB and characterization of the resulting polymer P(BTMB) were performed. Spectroelectrochemical analysis of the P(BTMB) reflected electronic transitions at 400 nm, 520 nm and ～720 nm, corresponding to π–π* transition, polaron and bipolaron band formation respectively. Switching ability was evaluated by a kinetic study via measuring the transmittance (%T) at the maximum contrast. Dual type all polymer electrochromic device (ECD) based on P(BTMB) and poly(ethylene dioxythiophene) (PEDOT) was constructed. Spectroelectrochemistry and switching ability of the devices were investigated by UV–vis spectroscopy.