Controlled Synthesis of Panchromatic Electrochromic Polytriarylamines

The goal of COSY-PANTERA is to develop a synthetic route giving access to easy-to-tailor electrochromic panchromatic pi-conjugated polymers that will undergo a clear transparent to color change with high durability, strong color contrast, and fast switching time.

To achieve it, I envisage preparing structurally-controlled polymers with multiple redox states (polyelectrochromes) that can be obtained by superimposing individual visible-light-absorbing electrochromes.

This is engineered by installing electrochromic moieties (e.g., carbazoles for green and phenothiazines for red) as pendant groups on a blue electrochromic triarylamine-based polymer backbone, known to form stable radical cations upon oxidation.

To obtain polytriarylamines with desired structural characteristics, I will develop a novel catalyst-transfer polymerization (CTP) method based on the Buchwald-Hartwig C-N bond-forming reaction.

AB-type monomers bearing electrochromic substituents will be prepared and, depending on the CTP protocol, alternate and block co-polymers will be designed.

This approach will provide well-defined and reproducible triarylamine-based polymers with tailored characteristics: average molecular weights, narrow molecular weight distributions, end-group fidelity, composition, and color without the use of toxic reagents.

Integration of these polymers into electrochromic prototypes will provide feedback to fine-tune the polymer structure, characteristics and electrochromism.

As proof-of-concept, I target the synthesis of a panchromatic aimed-at-black triarylamine-based polymer, the most demanded color in electrochromic applications.

This fellowship will allow me to continue my training in the field of organic chemistry, expanding my expertise into functional materials and properties assessment, with the goal to shape me from a prime researcher into a full-fledged scientist kicking off his independent career.