The Role of Electrochemical and Spectroelectrochemical Techniques in the Preparation and Characterization of Conjugated Polymers: From Polyaniline to Modern Organic Semiconductors

This review article presents different electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical techniques used to investigate conjugated polymers. The development of this research area is presented from an over 40-year perspective-the period of research carried out by Professor Mieczyslaw Lapkowski. Initial research involved polymers derived from simple aromatic compounds, such as polyaniline. Since then, scientific advances in the field of conductive polymers have led to the development of so-called organic electronics. Electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical methods have a great influence in the development of organic semiconductors. Their potential for explaining many phenomena is discussed and the most relevant examples are provided.

Viologen-Based Electrochromic Materials: From Small Molecules, Polymers and Composites to Their Applications

Organic materials have gained considerable attention for electrochromic (EC) applications owing to improved EC performance and good processability. As a class of well-recognized organic EC materials, viologens have received persistent attention due to the structural versatility and property tunability, and are major active EC components for most of the marketed EC devices. Over the past two decades, extensive efforts have been made to design and synthesize different types of viologen-based materials with enhanced EC properties. This review summarizes chemical structures, preparation and EC properties of various latest viologen-based electrochromes, including small viologen derivatives, main-chain viologen-based polymers, conjugated polymers with viologen side-chains and viologen-based organic/inorganic composites. The performance enhancement mechanisms are concisely discussed. The current marketed viologens-based electrochromic devices (ECDs) are briefly introduced and an outlook on the challenges and future exploration directions for viologen-based materials and their ECDs are also proposed.

A fluorescence-electrochemical study of carbon nanodots (CNDs) in bio- and photoelectronic applications and energy gap investigation

Carbon nanodots (CNDs) have attracted great attention due to their superior solubility, biocompatibility, tunable photoluminescence, and opto-electronic properties. This work describes a new fluorescence-based spectroelectrochemistry approach to simultaneously study the photoluminescence and wavelength dependent photocurrent of microwave synthesized CNDs. The fluorescence of CNDs shows selective quenching upon a reversible redox couple, ferricyanide/ferrocyanide, reaction during cyclic voltammetry. The CND modified gold slide electrode demonstrates wavelength dependent photocurrent generation during the fluorescence-electrochemical study, suggesting the potential application of CNDs in photoelectronics. UV-Vis absorption and electrochemistry are used to quantify the energy gap of the CNDs, and then to calibrate a Hückel model for CNDs' electronic energy levels. The Hückel (or tight binding) model treatment of an individual CND as a molecule combines the conjugated π states (C[double bond, length as m-dash]C) with the functional groups (C[double bond, length as m-dash]O, C-O, and COOH) associated with the surface electronic states. This experimental and theoretical investigation of CNDs provides a new perspective on the optoelectronic properties of CNDs and should aid in their development for practical use in biomedicine, chemical sensing, and photoelectric devices.

Electrosynthesis of Copolymers Based on 1,3,5-Tris(N-Carbazolyl)Benzene and 2,2'-Bithiophene and Their Applications in Electrochromic Devices

Poly(1,3,5-tris(N-carbazolyl)benzene) (PtnCz) and three copolymers based on 1,3,5-tris(N-carbazolyl)benzene (tnCz) and 2,2'-bithiophene (bTp) were electrochemically synthesized. The anodic P(tnCz1-bTp2) film with a tnCz/bTp feed molar ratio of 1/2 showed four colors (light orange at 0.0 V, yellowish-orange at 0.7 V, yellowish-green at 0.8 V, and blue at 1.1 V) from the neutral state to oxidized states. The optical contrast (∆T%) and coloration efficiency (η) of the P(tnCz1-bTp2) film were measured as 48% and 112 cm²∙C-¹, respectively, at 696 nm. Electrochromic devices (ECDs) based on PtnCz, P(tnCz1-bTp1), P(tnCz1-bTp2), P(tnCz1-bTp4), and PbTp films as anodic polymer layers and poly(3,4-dihydro-3,3-dimethyl-2H-thieno[3,4-b-1,4]dioxepin) (PProDOT-Me₂) as cathodic polymer layers were assembled. P(tnCz1-bTp2)/PProDOT-Me₂ ECD showed three various colors (saffron yellow, yellowish-blue, and dark blue) at potentials ranging from -0.3 to 1.5 V. In addition, P(tnCz1-bTp2)/PProDOT-Me₂ ECD showed a high ∆T% value (40% at 630 nm) and a high coloration efficiency (519 cm²∙C-¹ at 630 nm).

Experimental and Theoretical Examination of the Radical Cations Obtained from the Chemical and Electrochemical Oxidation of 5-Aminothiazoles

Chemical or electrochemical one-electron oxidation of 5-N-arylaminothiazoles was found to afford stable radical cations. For chemical oxidation, 1 equivalent of [(4-BrC6H4)3N][SbCl6] (Magic Blue, MB) was added to CH2Cl2 solutions of the thiazoles, and the thus-obtained radicals showed light absorption in the near-infrared region. Electrochemical oxidation also led to bathochromic shifts in the absorption bands, and the obtained spectra were similar to those derived from the chemically oxidized species. These radicals afforded electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectra that are consistent with the notion of stable nitrogen radicals (half-life≤385 h). The EPR spectrum of a thiazole containing 4-dimethylaminophenyl groups on the nitrogen atom at the 5-position changed significantly upon adding >3 equivalents of MB. Details of the electronic structures of the experimentally obtained radical cations were generated from theoretical calculations.

Electroreduction of Viologen Phenyl Diazonium Salts as a Strategy To Control Viologen Coverage on Electrodes

A majority of the reported electrografting of aryldiazonium salts result in the formation of covalently attached films with a limited surface coverage of below 5 nmol·cm^-2. Herein, we report the preparation of higher-thickness redox-active viologen-grafted electrodes from the electroreduction of viologen phenyl diazonium salts, by either cyclic voltammetric (CV) sweeps or electrolysis using a fixed potential. Both of the methodologies were successfully applied for various conductive surfaces, including glassy carbon (GC), gold disc, indium tin oxide glass, mesoporous TiO₂ electrodes, and 3D compacted carbon fibers. A robust maximal viologen coverage, Γ_viologen = 9.5 nmol·cm^-2, was achieved on a GC electrode by CV electroreduction. Electroreduction held at a fixed potential at E_appl. = -0.3 V can fabricate viologen-grafted electrodes with Γ_viologen in the range of 0-37 nmol·cm^-2 in a controllable way, by simply adjusting the electrodeposition time t_appl.. Time-dependent Γ_viologen were found to be 10 nmol·cm^-2@2 min, 20 nmol·cm^-2@4.2 min, and 30 nmol·cm^-2@7 min. Furthermore, a TiO₂ electrode coupled with Γ_viologen of 140 nmol·cm^-2 exhibited electrochromic performance, with the color changing from pale yellow to blue and red brown.

Inter-ligand electronic coupling mediated through a dimetal bridge: dependence on metal ions and ancillary ligands

The metal–metal bond orbitals and the ancillary ligands influence inter-ligand charge transfer through the dimetal bridge.

Achieving Low-Energy Driven Viologens-Based Electrochromic Devices Utilizing Polymeric Ionic Liquids

Herein, three kinds of viologens-based electrochromic devices (ECDs) (heptyl viologen (HV(BF₄)₂), octyl viologen (OV(BF₄)₂), and nonyl viologen (NV(BF₄)₂)) were fabricated utilizing ferrocene (Fc) as a redox mediator. Among them, the NV(BF₄)₂-based ECD exhibits the highest coloration efficiency (36.2 cm²/C) owing to the lowest driving energy. Besides, switching between 0 and 1.2 V, the NV(BF₄)₂-based ECD shows a desirable initial transmittance change (ΔT = 56.7% at 605 nm), and long-term stability (ΔT = 45.4% after 4000 cycles). Furthermore, a UV-cured polymer electrolyte containing polymeric ionic liquid (PIL, 1-allyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide) and ethoxylated trimethylolpropane triacrylate (ETPTA) was introduced to the NV(BF₄)₂-based ECD. By controlling the weight percentage of the PIL, different curing degrees of the polymer electrolytes were obtained and led to an improved stability of the NV(BF₄)₂-based ECD because of the immobilization of NV(BF₄)₂. This observation was explained by calculating the apparent diffusivity (D_app) of the redox species in the NV(BF₄)₂-based ECD under various curing degrees. In addition, increasing the amount of PIL leads to a lower driven energy needed for the NV(BF₄)₂-based ECD, following the same trend as the value of D_app. Among all NV(BF₄)₂-based ECDs, 20 wt % of PIL addition (20-PIL ECD) exhibits large transmittance change (ΔT = 55.2% at 605 nm), short switching times (2.13 s in coloring and 2.10 s in bleaching), high coloration efficiency (60.4 and 273.5 cm²/C at 605 nm, after excluding the current density at the steady state), and exceptional cycling stability (ΔT = 53.8% after 10,000 cycles, or retained 97.5% of its initial ΔT).

Thermally Cured Dual Functional Viologen-Based All-in-One Electrochromic Devices with Panchromatic Modulation

Vinyl benzyl viologen (VBV) was synthesized and utilized to obtain all-in-one thermally cured electrochromic devices (ECDs). The vinyl moiety of VBV monomer could react with methyl methacrylate (MMA) to yield bulky VBV/poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) chains and even cross-linked network without the assistance of additional cross-linker. Both the bulky VBV/PMMA chains and the resulting polymer network can hinder the aggregation of the viologens and reduce the possibility of dimerization, rendering enhanced cycling stability. Large transmittance changes (ΔT) over 60% at both 570 and 615 nm were achieved when the VBV-based ECD was switched from 0 V to a low potential bias of 0.5 V. Ultimately, the dual functional of VBV molecules, serving simultaneously as a promising electrochromic material and a cross-linker, is fully utilized in the proposed electrochromic system, making its fabrication process much easier. Negligible decays in ΔT at both wavelengths were observed for the cured ECD after being subjected to 1000 repetitive cycles, while 17.1% and 22.0% decays were noticed at 570 and 615 nm, respectively, for the noncured ECD. In addition, the low voltage-driven feature of the VBV-based ECD enables it to be incorporated with phenyl viologen (PV), further expanding the absorption range of the ECD. Panchromatic characteristic of the proposed PV/VBV-based ECD was demonstrated while exhibiting ΔT over 60% at both wavelengths. Only 5.3% and 6.9% decays, corresponding at 570 and 615 nm, respectively, were observed in the PV/VBV-based ECD after 10 000 continuous cycles at bleaching/coloring voltages of 0/0.5 V with an interval of 10 s for both bleaching and coloring processes.