Synthesis and electrochromic properties of methacrylate copolymers containing pendant terthiophene and oligo(ethyleneoxide) moieties

Novel methacrylate copolymers containing pendant terthiophene and oligo(ethyleneoxide) moieties, poly[(2,2ʹ:5ʹ,2"-terthiophen-5-yl)methyl methacrylate-co-α-ethoxy-ω-rnethacryloyl-oligo(ethyleneoxide)] (poly(MA3T-co-MAEO)), were prepared by radical copolymerization of the corresponding monomers in varying mole ratios and their application as electrochromic materials examined. The copolymers were found to undergo reversible, clear color change from yellowish orange to purple and vice versa on electrochemical doping and dedoping. The response time for color change on electrochemical doping and dedoping was found to decrease for the copolymers than for the corresponding methacrylate homopolymer containing pendant terthiophene.