A solution-processable electrochromic polymer designed with Reactive Yellow 160 and 2-hydroxy carbazole

In this study, we highlight a methodology for obtaining multifunctional, solution-processable super-structured polymeric structures from simple chemical reactions by using ordinary chemicals has been presented. For this purpose, the super-structured multifunctional monomer (CzRY) has been synthesized by combining an electroactive molecule with a commercial dye. In this multifunctional structure, 2-hydroxy carbazole has been chosen as an electroactive polymerizable group while Reactive yellow 160 dye has been chosen as an electrochromic and fluorescent material with the solution-processable property. Electropolymerization of CzRY has been comparatively examined in acetonitrile (ACN) and ACN/BFEE (boron trifluoride diethyl etherate) binary solvent system. PCzRY polymer film prepared in ACN/BFEE solution has been shown excellent electrochemical and electrochromic properties such as good cycling stability (92%), high coloration efficiency (678 cm2/C) and high optical contrast (70%). Moreover, the resultant polymer film has good solubility in THF and DMF. During the redox process, the transparent state of the polymer film was turning into green and aquamarine, respectively. As a result, solution-processable and fluorescent conducting polymer with high electrochromic property has been synthesized and characterized. © 2019 Elsevier B.V