Synthesis and electro-optical properties of a new copolymer based on EDOT and carbazole

Abstract

A new copolymer of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) and 5-(2-ethylhexyl)-1,3-bis(9-methyl-9H-carbazol-3-yl)-5H-thieno[3,4-c]pyrrole-4,6-dione (CzPDICz) was electrochemically synthesized using different monomer feed ratios. The resulting copolymer films were investigated in terms of their electrochemical and electro-optical behaviors. Properties of the obtained copolymer films through different monomer feed ratios were compared to each other and to individual poly(ethylenedioxythiophene; PEDOT) and homopolymer of CzPDICz in order to observe the differences in the properties with respect to PEDOT and P(CzPDICz). Copolymers exhibited well adherence on the electrode surface with having non-diffusional redox process. The monomer feed ratios were prepared as 9:1; 4:1, and 1:1 (EDOT:CzPDICz) and changes in the electrochemical and spectroelectrochemical behavior were noted with increasing CzPDICz ratio in the monomer mixture. Although no appreciable change in the optical band gap values of the copolymers was noted as compared to PEDOT, the neutral blue copolymers exhibited grayish color in their semi-oxidized states and transparent green in their fully oxidized states.