A dual electrochrome of poly-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) doped by N,N′-bis(3-sulfonatopropyl)-4-4′-bipyridinium-redox chemistry and electrochromism in flexible devices

Abstract

An electrochromic zwitterionic viologen, N,N′-bis(3-sulfonatopropyl)-4-4′-bipyridinium, has been used for the first time for doping poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene) (PEDOT) films during electropolymerization. Slow and fast diffusional rates for the monomer at deposition potentials of +1.2 and +1.8 V, respectively yielded the viologen-doped PEDOT films with granular morphology and with dendrite-like shapes. The dual electrochrome formed at +1.8 V, showed enhanced coloration efficiency, larger electrochemical charge storage capacity, and superior redox activity in comparison to its analogue grown at +1.2 V, thus demonstrating the role of dendritic shapes in amplifying electrochromism. Flexible electrochromic devices fabricated with the viologen-doped PEDOT film grown at +1.8 V and Prussian blue with an ionic liquid-based gel electrolyte film showed reversible coloration between pale and dark purple with maximum coloration efficiency of 187 cm² C⁻¹ at λ=693 nm. The diffusional impedance parameters and switching kinetics of the device showed the suitability of this dual electrochrome formed as a single layer for practical electrochromic cells.