Conducting Copolymers of 3-Methylthienyl Methacrylate and p-Vinylbenzyloxy Poly(ethyleneoxide) and Their Electrochromic Properties

Abstract

A random copolymer (CP) containing 3-methylthienyl methacrylate (MTM) and p-vinylbenzyloxy poly(ethyleneoxide) (PEO-VB) units was synthesized. Further graft copolymerization of CP with pyrrole (Py) and thiophene (Th) were achieved in H2O - sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS), H2O - p-toluenesulphonic acid (PTSA) and acetonitrile (AN) - tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TBAFB) solvent electrolyte couples via constant potential electrolyses. Characterization was performed by cyclic voltammetry (CV), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), and fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The morphologies of the films were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Conductivities of the samples were measured by using four-probe technique. Moreover, spectroelectrochemical and electrochromic properties of the copolymer obtained from thiophene were investigated by UV-Vis spectrometry and colorimetry.