A new black to highly transmissive switching bilayer polymer composite films with electroactive pEA as a color buffer layer for improving electrochromic stability

Two reported D-A-D monomers based on 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) were selected for electrochemical copolymerization to obtain copolymer film, named pRG. Then, a soluble polymer poly[3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-alt-3,4-bis([2-ethylhexyl]oxy)thiophene] (pEA) based on the EDOT derivative was screened out, which is complementary to the absorption trough of the pRG film in visible region and matched with its working potential. The bilayer composite film pRG/pEA was obtained by spinning pEA basement membrane on fluorine doped tin oxide (FTO) coated glass surface, and then in situ electrochemical polymerization of pRG film. Compared to the pRG monolayer film, the bilayer composite film shows a more saturated black color in the neutral state and significant improvement on cyclic stability (only decreased by 1.7% after 250 cycles, while pRG film decreased by 17.1%). The introduction of pEA buffer layer not only achieves the full spectral absorption of the composite film in the visible region, but also significantly improves the cyclic stability of the bilayer composite film. The assembled EC prototype device based on the pRG/pEA composite film exhibits a "black to high transmission" reversible switch. Finally, this method combining electrochemical copolymerization, spin-coating, lamination and other methods provides a new research idea for designing and preparing black to transmissive electrochromic materials.