Synthesis of Poly (2,5-dimethoxyaniline) and Electrochromic Properties

Poly(2,5-dimethoxyaniline) (PDMA) was synthesized using electrochemical polymerization of DMA in oxalic acid. The PDMA film coated onto ITO glass was studied for its chemical structure, morphology, electro-deposition, and electro-activity by FT-IR, TGA, SEM, cyclic voltammetry, and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. The PDMA film showed reversible color changes from yellow to blue representing the transition between the fully reduced state to the fully oxidized state upon switching the potentials. The response time of the PDMA film in term of color change was investigated under various applied potentials and different types of acid electrolyte (HCl and H₂SO₄). The fast response time of less than 2 sec was observed at the applied potential of 1.6 V. In comparison with HCl, the use of H₂SO₄ as an electrolyte resulted in the fastest response time. Thus, the PDMA is a potential candidate in electrochromic devices due to its reversible color change and fast response time.

Keywords:
electrochromic polymer; Poly(2,5–dimethoxyaniline); electrochemical polymerization; response time