Navy-to-transmissive electrochromic polymer based on 3,4-propylenedioxythiophene

A novel conjugated polymer PProDOTCBDEM based on propylenedioxythiophene (ProDOT) with diethyl malonate (DEM) pendant group and a cyclobutane spacer between ProDOT and DEM was successfully synthesized through electrochemical polymerization. The polymer film exhibits reversible electrochromism switching between navy neutral state (− 0.1 V) and transmissive oxidized state (0.7 V). The symmetric double short chain ester substitution pattern was utilized to realize the navy color of the polymer film. The electrochemistry, spectroelectrochemistry and electrochromic switching properties of the polymer film were studied in detail.