Facile fabrication of electrochromic polyamide films via electropolymerization of diphenylpyrenylamine monomers with triphenylamine or N-phenylcarbazole units

Two electropolymerizable monomers, designated as DPPA-2(CONH-TPA) and DPPA-2(CONH-NPC), were synthesized through the condensation reaction of N,N -di(4-carboxyphenyl)-1-aminopyrene with 4-aminotriphenylamine and N -(4-aminophenyl)carbazole, respectively. The electrochemical properties and electropolymerization reactions of the monomers were studied. Robust polyamide films were formed on the ITO/glass surface through repetitive cyclic voltammetry scanning of the monomer solutions containing an electrolyte, conducted within a voltage range of 0 to 1.4 V or 1.6 V over ten cycles. The electro-generated films demonstrated reversible redox processes at half-wave potentials ( E 1/2 ) around 0.85 V, accompanied by significant color changes upon oxidation. The spectroelectrochemical and electrochromic properties of the electrodeposited polymer films were investigated, and simple single-layer electrochromic devices were fabricated and tested. These electroactive polymeric films may have potential applications in the design and construction of organic electrochromic or other electro-optical devices. • Two new electropolymerizable monomers featuring diphenylpyrenylamine ( DPPA ) as an interior core via amide groups linked to two terminal electroactive triphenylamine ( TPA ) or N -phenylcarbazole ( NPC ) units have been synthesized. • Electroactive polyamide films could be built onto ITO/glass surface by repetitive CV scanning of the monomer solutions containing an electrolyte. • Electrochemical and electrochromic properties of the electro-generated polymer films were investigated.