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Published on: February 27, 2019
Ligand-Controlled Electrochromic Diversification with Multilayer Coated Metallosupramolecular Polymer Assemblies
Indulekha Mukkatt1,2, Anjali Nirmala1, Nayan Dev Madhavan1
1Photosciences and Photonics Section, Chemical Sciences and Technology Division, CSIR-National Institute for Interdisciplinary Science and Technology (CSIR-NIIST), Industrial Estate P.O., Pappanamcode, Thiruvananthapuram 695019, India.
Researchers developed spray-coated electrochromic films using novel iron(II)-based metallosupramolecular polymers. Ligand structure precisely controls film properties, enabling tunable electrochromic devices with high performance and image creation capabilities.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Supramolecular Chemistry
- Electrochemistry
Background:
- Designing responsive molecular systems is crucial for advanced materials.
- Metallosupramolecular polymers offer tunable properties based on ligand-metal interactions.
- Electrochromic materials change color upon electrical stimulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To design and synthesize novel tetraterpyridine ligands with varied core architectures.
- To create spray-coated electrochromic films and devices based on iron(II)-metallosupramolecular polymers.
- To investigate the structure-property relationships governing the electrochromic performance.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of three tetraterpyridine ligands with phenyl, tetraphenylethynyl, and bithiophene cores.
- Fabrication of spray-coated metallosupramolecular polymer network films on conductive substrates.
- Characterization using spectroelectrochemistry, permeability studies, and device testing.
Main Results:
- Achieved high coloration efficiencies (up to 1050 cm²/C) and optical contrast (up to 76%).
- Demonstrated ligand-structure dependent molecular permeability and spectroelectrochemical behavior.
- Integrated films into sandwich-type electrochromic cells with high contrast (56%), fast switching, and stability.
- Enabled creation of electrochromic patterns and images via spray-coating.
Conclusions:
- Ligand core architecture dictates metal coordination, film porosity, and electrochromic performance.
- Spray-coated iron(II)-based metallosupramolecular polymer films offer a versatile platform for tunable electrochromic applications.
- The developed systems provide a facile method for creating patterned electrochromic devices.
