Processable donor–acceptor type electrochromes switching between multicolored and highly transmissive states towards single component RGB-based display devices

Abstract

Donor–acceptor (DA) type polymers, poly(2-alkyl-4-(thiophen-2-yl)-2H-benzo[1,2,3]triazole)s (PTBT-DAs), with alternating alkyl chain substitution were synthesized and characterized in terms of their electrochemical and optical properties. Spray processable polymers have multicolored states upon oxidation and showed ambipolar characteristics in which n-type doping allowed them to achieve a transparent state in a low working potential range. Reported electrochemical and spectral results showed that PTBT-DAs are great candidates for single component electrochromic display devices. In the context of low cost flexible display device technology, requirements for polymers showing multicolored and transmissive states can be fulfilled by PTBT-DAs.