(714f) Electrochromic Nanocomposite Films From Poly(DNTD) Via Electorpolymerization

Hybrid electrochromic poly(DNTD) CdSe@ZnS quantum dots (QDs) and poly(DNTD)/ WO₃ nanocomposite films were prepared by electropolymerization on an indium in oxide (ITO) coated glass slide from the DNTD monomer and nanoparticles suspended methylene chloride solution, respectively. The morphology and microstructure of the nanocomposite film were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy (AFM). SEM image shows that the QDs and WO₃ nanoparticles are uniformly embedded in the polymeric matrix. The nanocomposite film also displays smooth topography with evenly-sized and uniformly distributed nanoparticles under high resolution AFM observations. Fluorescent microscopic observations revealed the fluorescent emission of the nanocomposites with the QDs embedded in the hosting polymer matrix. An air-stable electrochromical window was assembled and obtained by a home-made electrochemical cell to study the electrochromism and stableness of the nanocomposite film. For poly(DNTD)/ WO₃ nanocomposite film, the film exhibits multiple colors at both the cathodic and anodic potentials, i.e. light blue at -1.4 V, orange red at -0.8 V, colorless at 0 V, orange green at 0.8 V, light blue at 1.0 V, and deep blue at 1.2 or 1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl in propylene carbonate containing 1.0 M LiClO₄ electrolyte. The UV-Visible incorporated electrochemical spectroscopy coupled with amperometry were also employed to study the composite film under different potentials in the range of -1.4 to 1.4 V vs. Ag/AgCl. The composite film also shows stable electrochromism even after 100 times scan. The unique electrochromic properties of these hybrid nanocomposite thin films promise potential applications of nanocomposite thin films from poly(DNTD) in the electrochromic divices.