title: A Solution-Processable (Tetraaniline-b-Polyethylene Glycol)3 Star-Shaped Rod-Coil Block Copolymer with Enhanced Electrochromic Properties.
abstract: A novel electroactive star-shaped rod-coil copolymer composed of a benzene core and three symmetrically positioned tetraaniline-b-poly(ethylene glycol) arms, (TAni-b-PEG)3 rod-coil block copolymer, is synthesized successfully and characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), UV-vis, (1)H NMR, and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI) mass spectrometry. Uniform and high-quality (TAni-b-PEG)3 thin films onto indium tin oxide-coated glass surface are fabricated simply from its DMF solution. Resulting (TAni-b-PEG)3 copolymer thin films possess excellent electrochromic properties with a high optical contrast of 73.3%, superb coloration efficiency of 318.5 cm(2) C(-1) at 750 nm. Very short switching times, that is, 2.11 s and 2.14 s for coloring and bleaching times, respectively, are observed as well. The mechanism of these impressive electrochromic properties of (TAni-b-PEG)3 thin films possessed is proposed based on the atomic force microscopy investigation, star-shaped molecular geometry, synergetic electronic and ionic conductivity and amphiphilic self-assembly feature of (TAni-b-PEG)3 copolymer, which can self-assemble to form cylinder pattern consisting of quick pathways for electronic charges and ionic species, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Aerospace Advanced Materials and Performance, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
authors.forename: Linyu
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Aerospace Advanced Materials and Performance, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Aerospace Advanced Materials and Performance, Ministry of Education, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing, 100191, China.
authors.forename: Jiping
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D009682:Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy; D015394:Molecular Structure; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D011108:Polymers / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D017550:Spectroscopy, Fourier Transform Infrared
chemical_list: D000814:Aniline Compounds; D011108:Polymers; D011092:Polyethylene Glycols; C023650:aniline
keywords: bifunctional materials; block copolymers; electrochromism; poly(ethylene glycol); tetraaniline