On/off photoswitching of the electropolymerizability of terthiophenes
Jetsuda Areephong1, Tibor Kudernac, Jaap J D de Jong
1Stratingh Institute for Chemistry, University of Groningen, Nijenborgh 4, 9747 AG Groningen, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
In this contribution the polymerization of terthiophene, to form an alkene bridged alpha,alpha-coupled sexithiophene polymer, is controlled by light; i.e. the electropolymerizability of the monomer 1F is switched off and on with UV and visible light, respectively. The system comprises of both bis-terthiophene and photochromic dithienylethene units. The presence of a light-switchable unit allows on-off switching of the electropolymerization of the monomer with light. Furthermore the incorporation of the dithienylethene in the polymer backbone increases dramatically the homogenity of the polymer formed (i.e., only sexithiophene units are formed). The derived films are robust and fully retain electrochromic behavior as has been demonstrated through cyclic voltammetry while spatial control (patterning) is readily achieved by applying simple optical masking techniques.
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