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Article

Applications of Poly(indole-6-carboxylic acid-co-2,2′-bithiophene) Films in High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices

by
Chung-Wen Kuo
1,
Tzi-Yi Wu
2,* and
Shu-Chien Fan
1
1
Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and Technology, Kaohsiung 80778, Taiwan
2
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Engineering, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Yunlin 64002, Taiwan
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Coatings 2018, 8(3), 102; https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8030102
Submission received: 14 February 2018 / Revised: 2 March 2018 / Accepted: 9 March 2018 / Published: 13 March 2018
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Polymer Thin Films)
Browse Figures
Versions Notes

Abstract

Two homopolymers (poly(indole-6-carboxylic acid) (PInc) and poly(2,2′-bithiophene) (PbT)) and a copolymer (poly(indole-6-carboxylic acid-co-2,2′-bithiophene) (P(Inc-co-bT))) are electrodeposited on ITO electrode surfaces via electrochemical method. Electrochemical and electrochromic properties of PInc, PbT, and P(Inc-co-bT) films were characterized using cyclic voltammetry and in situ UV-Vis spectroscopy. The anodic P(Inc-co-bT) film prepared using Inc./bT = 1/1 feed molar ratio shows high optical contrast (30% at 890 nm) and coloring efficiency (112 cm2 C−1 at 890 nm). P(Inc-co-bT) film revealed light yellow, yellowish green, and bluish grey in the neutral, intermediate, and oxidation states, respectively. Electrochromic devices (ECDs) were constructed using PInc, PbT, or P(Inc-co-bT) film as anodic layer and PEDOT-PSS as cathodic layer. P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD showed high ∆T (31%) at 650 nm, and PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD displayed high coloration efficiency (416.7 cm2 C−1) at 650 nm. The optical memory investigations of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs exhibited that ECDs had adequate optical memory in bleaching and coloring states.

1. Introduction

Conjugated polymers have sparked enormous attention for applications in solar energy conversion [1,2], electrochromic devices (ECDs) [3,4,5], chemical sensing materials [6,7], catalysts for methanol oxidation in direct methanol fuel cells [8,9,10], and polymer organic light emitting diodes (polymer OLEDs, or PLEDs) [11,12,13] due to their intriguing optical, electrochemical, and structural properties. Among them, the applications of conjugated polymers in developing high contrast electrochromic devices are currently attractive due to their energy-saving and light control properties. During the last decade, the most frequently studied electrochromic polymers are polythiophenes [14,15], polycarbazoles [16,17], polyindoles [18], polyanilines [19], polytriphenylamine [20], and polypyrroles [21]. Among them, polyindoles have several benefits such as high conductivity, facile polymerization from organic or aqueous media, and good chemical stability. Moreover, polyindoles show higher thermal stability and redox activity than those of polypyrroles and polyanilines. Polythiophenes and their derivatives also show good stability toward moisture and oxygen in their oxidized and reduced states, they can be functionalized by the incorporations of oxygen and sulfur atoms at 3,4-postions of the thiophene unit, and the absorption spectra and electrochemical onset potential can be tuned for functionalized polythiophenes. In addition, copolymerization of diverse monomers containing numerous distinct components can bring about intriguing results of the electrochromic behaviors observed in their corresponding homopolymer films [22]. For the affair, a copolymer contains indole and thiophene derivatives were prepared electrochemically to explore the intriguing properties.
The purpose of this study is to prepare P(Inc-co-bT) film using electrochemical polymerization and compare its spectroelectrochemical properties, multicolored behaviors, transmittance variations, and coloration efficiency with its corresponding homopolymers (PInc and PbT films). Moreover, ECDs were fabricated using PInc, PbT, and P(Inc-co-bT) films as the anodic materials, PEDOT-PSS as the cathodic material and a PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4 composite film as the electrochromic electrolyte. The electrochromic behavior, spectroelectrochemistry, coloration efficiency, optical memory effect, and redox stability of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs were explored in detail.

2. Materials and Methods

2.1. Materials

Indole-6-carboxylic acid and 2,2′-bithiophene were purchased from Aldrich and TCI, respectively, and used as received. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)-poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS) 1.3 wt % dispersion in H2O was purchased from Aldrich (St. Louis, MO, USA). PInc, PbT, and P(Inc-co-bT) films were electrodeposited potentiostatically at +1.0 V on ITO glass with a charge density of 50 mC cm−2, the feed species and feed molar ratio of PInc, PbT, and P(Inc-co-bT) films were displayed in Table 1. The composite electrolyte for electrochromic characterization was prepared using a mixture solution of PMMA, LiClO4, PC, and ACN according to previously published work [23].

2.2. Electrochemical and Spectroelectrochemical Characterizations

The electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical properties of PInc, PbT and P(Inc-co-bT) films coated on ITO electrodes and PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs were investigated using a HITACHI UV-Visible spectrophotometer (Hitachi, Tokyo, Japan) and a CHI627D electrochemical analyzer (CH Instruments, Austin, TX, USA). The active area of PInc, PbT, and P(Inc-co-bT) films on ITO electrodes was 1.0 × 1.5 cm2. UV-Visible spectra of polymer films in 0.2 M LiClO4/(PC+ACN) solution and ECDs were scanned with a rate of 500 nm min−1. Electrochemical switching properties of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films in 0.2 M LiClO4/(PC+ACN) solution were monitored between 0.0 and +0.8 V (vs. Ag/AgNO3) with a residence time of 10 s. Open circuit stabilities of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs were monitored at 650, 650 and 690 nm, respectively.

2.3. Fabrication of ECDs

ECDs were assembled using PInc, PbT, or P(Inc-co-bT) film as the anodic layer, PEDOT-PSS film as the cathodic layer and a PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4 composite film as the electrochromic electrolyte. ECDs were fabricated by anodic and cathodic layers facing each other and were separated by a PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4 composite film as shown in Figure 1.

3. Results and Discussion

3.1. Electrochemical Polymerizations of PInc, PbT and P(Inc-co-bT) Films

The anodic polarization curves of Inc., bT, and their mixture (Inc. + bT) in PC+ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4 are shown in Figure 2, the onset potentials of Inc., bT, and their mixture (Inc. + bT) are 0.64, 0.81, and 0.84 V vs. Ag/AgNO3, respectively. The deviation of onset potentials between Inc. and bT is less than 0.2 V, implying the feasibility of copolymerization using the two monomers.
Figure 3 shows the repetitive cycling at potentials between 0.0 and 1.4 V for 8 cycles, the increased current density clearly indicated PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films were electrodeposited onto ITO glass substrate during the repetitive cycling.
Moreover, the oxidation peaks of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films located at 0.92, 1.26, and 1.05 V, respectively, and the reduction peaks of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films located at 0.46, 0.40, and 0.44 V, respectively. The redox peaks and wave shapes of P(Inc-co-bT) film are different to those of PInc and PbT films, demonstrating the formation of P(Inc-co-bT) film on ITO glass substrate. The electrosynthetic scheme of P(Inc-co-bT) is displayed in Figure 4 [24,25].
The redox behavior of P(Inc-co-bT) film was studied using cyclic voltammograms at scanning rates between 10 and 200 mV s−1 in 0.2 M LiClO4/(PC+ACN) solution, and the results are shown in Figure 5.
The P(Inc-co-bT) films reveal a quasi-reversible oxidation-reduction couple, indicating the doping and de-doping processes of the P(Inc-co-bT) film, the redox behavior and polaron mechanism of P(Inc-co-bT) film is shown in Figure 6. As shown in Figure 5b, both anodic and cathodic peak current density increase linearly with increasing scan rate, representing P(Inc-co-bT) film was well adhered onto ITO surface and the oxidation and reduction processes of the polymer film was not diffusion controlled [26].

3.2. Spectroscopic Properties of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT Films

Figure 7a–c showed the absorption spectra and photoimages of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films coated on ITO glass substrate at various potentials in 0.2 M LiClO4/(PC + ACN) solution. The π-π * and n-π * transition peak of PInc and PbT films in the neutral state located at around 350 and 450 nm, respectively. However, the corresponding transition peak of P(Inc-co-bT) film located at about 395 nm (Figure 7b), the transition peak of P(Inc-co-bT) film shifted bathochromically compared to that of PInc film but shifted hypsochromically compared to that of PbT film. The absorption peaks of PInc film at 350 nm, PbT film at 700 nm, and P(Inc-co-bT) film at 395 nm decreased gradually when the potentials grew up, meanwhile, new absorption bands of PInc film at 750 nm, PbT film at 450 nm, and P(Inc-co-bT) film at 1020 nm emerged gradually, implying the generation of charge carriers [27].
The PInc film was light yellow (0.0 V) in the neutral state, yellowish grey (+0.8 V) in the intermediate state, and purple (+0.9 V) in the oxidized state. The PbT film was light orange, dark orange, and dark blue at 0.0, +0.7, and +1.4 V, respectively. Their corresponding P(Inc-co-bT) copolymer film revealed light yellow, yellowish green, and bluish grey at 0.0, +0.6, and +0.8 V, respectively. The colors of P(Inc-co-bT) film are different to those of PInc and PbT films during the doping process.

3.3. Electrochemical Switching of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT Films

Kinetic studies of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films in 0.2 M LiClO4/(PC+ACN) solution were monitored by increasing and decreasing of transmittance with respect to time between 0.0 and +0.8 V (vs. Ag/AgNO3) with a residence time of 10 s.
As shown in Figure 8 and Table 2, the ∆T of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films at the wavelength of absorption maxima are 17.8% at 510 nm, 30.2% at 890 nm, and 27.0% at 470 nm, respectively, in 0.2 M LiClO4/(PC+ACN) solution. P(Inc-co-bT) film shows higher ∆T than those of PInc and PbT films, implying the copolymer prepared using Inc. and bT monomers gave rise to significant charge carrier band than those of PInc and PbT homopolymer films. Response time was defined as the time required for achieving 90% of the desired response. The coloring response time (τc) and bleaching response time (τb) at the 2nd cycle were measured as 4.0 and 6.5 s for PInc film, 3.5 and 5.0 s for P(Inc-co-bT) film, and 3.0 and 5.2 s for PbT film, respectively.
The coloration efficiency (η) of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films can be calculated using the following formulas [28]:
η = ∆OD/Qd
∆OD = log(Tb/Tc)
where ∆OD indicates the change of the optical density at a specific wavelength, Qd is the charge density of electrochromic electrodes, and Tb and Tc represent the transmittance of the bleaching and coloring states, respectively. The η of PInc, P(Inc-co-bT), and PbT films are 41 cm2 C−1 at 510 nm, 112 cm2 C−1 at 890 nm, and 113 cm2 C−1 at 470 nm, respectively.

3.4. Spectroelectrochemistry of ECDs

Figure 9a–c showed the spectroelectrochemical spectra of dual type PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs at various potentials, PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD shows a shoulder at around 370 nm at 0.0–0.6 V, this can be attributed to the π-π * transition peak of PInc film in its neutral state.
In the situation, PEDOT-PSS was transparent in its oxidation state, and PInc film was light yellow at 0.0 V. Under similar condition, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD shows a peak at around 380 nm at 0.0 V, the absorption peak for P(Inc-co-bT) film diminished and a new absorption band at 700 nm appeared at +1.4 V, the P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD was indigo at +1.4 V as shown in Figure 1. PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD showed light orange and dark blue at 0.0 and +1.5 V, respectively.
The transmittance-time profiles of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs were shown in Figure 10 and the ∆T, ∆OD, η, τc, and τb of these ECDs are listed in Table 3.
The ∆T% of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs were 25% at 650 nm, 31% at 650 nm, and 24.5% at 690 nm, respectively. An ECD employed copolymer (P(Inc-co-bT)) as anodic layer showed higher ∆T than those of anodic homopolymers (PInc and PbT). From another point of view, PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD showed higher η (416.7 cm2 C−1 at 650 nm) than those of P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS (320 cm2 C−1 at 650 nm) and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS (266.1 cm2 C−1 at 690 nm) ECDs. Furthermore, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD shows shorter τc and τb than those of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs, implying an ECD employed copolymer (P(Inc-co-bT)) as anodic layer changes color faster from the bleaching state to the coloring state than those of anodic homopolymers.
The comparisons of ΔT, η and τ with reported ECDs are shown in Table 4, P(Inc-co-bT)/PEDOT-PSS ECD shows higher ΔTmax than that reported for PInc/PProDOT-Et2 ECD [29], whereas the ΔTmax of P(Inc-co-bT)/PEDOT-PSS ECD is lower than those of PIn/PEDOT [30] and P(Cz-co-CIn)/PProDOT-Me2 [31] ECDs. In the other hand, P(Inc-co-bT)/PEDOT-PSS ECD shows higher η at 650 nm than that reported for PInc/PProDOT-Et2 [29] ECD, thereby allowing fast switching rates of P(Inc-co-bT)/PEDOT-PSS ECD. In addition, the τc of P(Inc-co-bT)/PEDOT-PSS ECD is shorter than those reported for PInc/PProDOT-Et2 [29], PIn/PEDOT [30], and P(Cz-co-CIn)/PProDOT-Me2 [31] ECDs, which makes P(Inc-co-bT)/PEDOT-PSS ECD desirable for electrochromic applications.

3.5. Long-Term Stability and Optical Memory Effect of ECDs

The long-term cycling stability of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs were measured using cyclic voltammetry with a scan rate of 500 mV s−1. As shown in Figure 11, 98.1%, 99.9%, and 99.6% of activity was maintained after 500 cycles for PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs, respectively, and 98.9%, 99.7%, and 98.1% of activity was maintained after 1000 cycles for PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs, respectively, demonstrating PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs exhibited an adequate long-term cycling stability.
The optical memory effect is a crucial character for ECDs [32]. The optical memory of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS, and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs was evaluated by giving potential for 1 s for each 100 s time interval. As shown in Figure 12b, the P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD showed adequate optical memories in a neutral state of P(Inc-co-bT) film, the transmittance change of P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD is less than 1% in the reduced states of P(Inc-co-bT) film.
However, in the oxidized state of P(Inc-co-bT) film and in the reduced state of PEDOT-PSS film, the P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD is less stable than that in the reduced state of P(Inc-co-bT) film and oxidized state of PEDOT-PSS film, but the transmittance change of P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD is less than 5%, the optical memory of P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD are compared to other reported polymer-based ECDs [33,34], indicating P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD shows adequate optical memory in bleaching and coloring states.

4. Conclusions

P(Inc-co-bT) film was coated on ITO electrode using electrochemical polymerization. Spectroelectrochemical analysis of P(Inc-co-bT) film showed distinct electrochromic behaviors, it was light yellow, yellowish green, and bluish grey at 0.0, +0.6, and +0.8 V, respectively. P(Inc-co-bT) film showed higher transmittance change (∆T = 30.2%) than those of PInc and PbT films. Electrochromic switching studies of anodic polymer films displayed that P(Inc-co-bT) film had shorter switching time than those of PInc and PbT films. On the other hand, spectroelectrochemical studies of dual-type complementary ECDs display that P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD was light yellow and indigo at −1.0 and +1.4 V, respectively. The ∆T and coloration efficiency of P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD were 31% and 320 cm2 C−1, respectively, at 650 nm. Long-term cycling stability testing of ECDs confirmed that P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECD exhibited better stability than those of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS and PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs.

Acknowledgments

The authors would like to thank the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) of Taiwan for financially supporting this project.

Author Contributions

Chung-Wen Kuo conceived the research topic. Shu-Chien Fan and Tzi-yi Wu implemented the experiments. Chung-Wen Kuo, Tzi-Yi Wu, and Shu-Chien Fan analyzed the electrochromic properties.

Conflicts of Interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Figure 1. Schematic diagrams of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS and P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS devices.
Figure 1. Schematic diagrams of PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS and P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS devices.
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Figure 2. Anodic polarization curves of (a) 4 mM Inc., (b) 4 mM Inc. + 4 mM bT, and (c) 4 mM bT in PC+ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4 at a scan rate of 100 mV s−1.
Figure 2. Anodic polarization curves of (a) 4 mM Inc., (b) 4 mM Inc. + 4 mM bT, and (c) 4 mM bT in PC+ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4 at a scan rate of 100 mV s−1.
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Figure 3. Electrochemical synthesis of (a) PInc, (b) P(Inc-co-bT), and (c) PbT in PC + ACN solution at 100 mV s−1 on ITO working electrodes.
Figure 3. Electrochemical synthesis of (a) PInc, (b) P(Inc-co-bT), and (c) PbT in PC + ACN solution at 100 mV s−1 on ITO working electrodes.
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Figure 4. The electrochemical polymerization scheme of P(Inc-co-bT).
Figure 4. The electrochemical polymerization scheme of P(Inc-co-bT).
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Figure 5. (a) CV curves of the P(Inc-co-bT) film at different scan rates between 10 and 200 mV s−1 in PC+ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4; (b) Scan rate dependence of the anodic and cathodic peak current densities of P(Inc-co-bT) film.
Figure 5. (a) CV curves of the P(Inc-co-bT) film at different scan rates between 10 and 200 mV s−1 in PC+ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4; (b) Scan rate dependence of the anodic and cathodic peak current densities of P(Inc-co-bT) film.
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Figure 6. Redox behavior of the P(Inc-co-bT) film.
Figure 6. Redox behavior of the P(Inc-co-bT) film.
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Figure 7. UV-Visible spectra of (a) PInc, (b) P(Inc-co-bT), and (c) PbT on ITO in PC + ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4.
Figure 7. UV-Visible spectra of (a) PInc, (b) P(Inc-co-bT), and (c) PbT on ITO in PC + ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4.
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Figure 8. Transmittance variations of (a) PInc, (b) P(Inc-co-bT), and (c) PbT electrodes in PC+ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4 between 0.0 V and +0.8 V with a residence time of 10 s.
Figure 8. Transmittance variations of (a) PInc, (b) P(Inc-co-bT), and (c) PbT electrodes in PC+ACN solution containing 0.2 M LiClO4 between 0.0 V and +0.8 V with a residence time of 10 s.
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Figure 9. UV-Visible spectra of (a) PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; (b) P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; and (c) PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs.
Figure 9. UV-Visible spectra of (a) PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; (b) P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; and (c) PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs.
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Figure 10. Transmittance variations of (a) PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; (b) P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; and (c) PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs with a residence time of 10 s.
Figure 10. Transmittance variations of (a) PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; (b) P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; and (c) PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs with a residence time of 10 s.
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Figure 11. Cyclic voltammograms of (a) PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; (b) P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; and (c) PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs as a function of repeated with a scan rate of 500 mV s−1 at 1st, 500th and 1000th cycles.
Figure 11. Cyclic voltammograms of (a) PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; (b) P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; and (c) PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs as a function of repeated with a scan rate of 500 mV s−1 at 1st, 500th and 1000th cycles.
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Figure 12. Open circuit stability of (a) PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; (b) P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; and (c) PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs.
Figure 12. Open circuit stability of (a) PInc/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; (b) P(Inc-co-bT)/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS; and (c) PbT/PMMA-PC-ACN-LiClO4/PEDOT-PSS ECDs.
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Table 1. Feed species of anodic polymer electrodes (a)–(c).
Table 1. Feed species of anodic polymer electrodes (a)–(c).
ElectrodesAnodic PolymersFeed Species of Anodic PolymerFeed Molar Ratio of Anodic Polymer
(a)PInc4 mM Inc.Neat Inc.
(b)P(Inc-co-bT)4 mM Inc. + 4 mM bT 1:1
(c)PbT4 mM bTNeat bT
Table 2. Optical and electrochemical properties investigated at the selected applied wavelength for the electrodes.
Table 2. Optical and electrochemical properties investigated at the selected applied wavelength for the electrodes.
Polymer Electrodesλ (nm) aToxTred∆T∆ODQd (mC cm−2)η (cm2 C−1)τc (s)τb (s)
PInc51043.461.817.80.1533.73414.06.5
P(Inc-co-bT)89018.048.230.20.4283.801123.55.0
PbT47011.038.027.00.5384.801133.05.2
a The selected applied wavelength for the electrodes.
Table 3. Optical and electrochemical properties investigated at the selected applied wavelength for the devices.
Table 3. Optical and electrochemical properties investigated at the selected applied wavelength for the devices.
ECDsλ (nm) aToxTred∆T∆ODQd (mC cm−2)η (cm2 C−1)τc (s)τb (s)
PInc/PEDOT-PSS65018.243.225.00.3750.90416.72.53.5
P(Inc-co-bT)/PEDOT-PSS6508.039.031.00.6882.22320.00.81.4
PbT/PEDOT-PSS69014.038.524.50.4391.65266.11.21.5
a The selected applied wavelength for the devices.
Table 4. Electrochemical optical contrast and coloration efficiencies of ECDs.
Table 4. Electrochemical optical contrast and coloration efficiencies of ECDs.
ECD ConfigurationΔTmax (%)ηmax (cm2 C−1)τc (s)τb (s)Ref.
PInc/PProDOT-Et222.0 (580 nm)1861.45.0[29]
PIn/PEDOT45.0 (600 nm)5101.01.0[30]
P(Cz-co-CIn)/PProDOT-Me232.0 (575 nm)372.74.34.4[31]
P(Inc-co-bT)/PEDOT-PSS31.0 (650 nm)320.00.81.4This work

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MDPI and ACS Style

Kuo, C.-W.; Wu, T.-Y.; Fan, S.-C. Applications of Poly(indole-6-carboxylic acid-co-2,2′-bithiophene) Films in High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices. Coatings 2018, 8, 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8030102

AMA Style

Kuo C-W, Wu T-Y, Fan S-C. Applications of Poly(indole-6-carboxylic acid-co-2,2′-bithiophene) Films in High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices. Coatings. 2018; 8(3):102. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8030102

Chicago/Turabian Style

Kuo, Chung-Wen, Tzi-Yi Wu, and Shu-Chien Fan. 2018. "Applications of Poly(indole-6-carboxylic acid-co-2,2′-bithiophene) Films in High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices" Coatings 8, no. 3: 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8030102

APA Style

Kuo, C.-W., Wu, T.-Y., & Fan, S.-C. (2018). Applications of Poly(indole-6-carboxylic acid-co-2,2′-bithiophene) Films in High-Contrast Electrochromic Devices. Coatings, 8(3), 102. https://doi.org/10.3390/coatings8030102

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