Optical, electrochemical and morphological investigations of poly (3,4-propylenedioxythiophene)–sultone (PProDOT–S) thin films

Abstract

In this paper, we have carried out thin film characterization of poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene)–sultone (PProDOT–S), a derivative of electrochromic poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT). PProDOT–S was deposited onto transparent conducting oxide coated glass substrates by solution casting method. Single wavelength spectrophotometry is used to monitor the switching speed and contrast ratio at maximum wavelength (λ _max). The percentage transmittance at the λ _max of the neutral polymer is monitored as a function of time when the polymer film is repeatedly switched. This experiment gives a quantitative measure of the speed with which a film is able to switch between the two states i.e. the coloured and the bleached states. PProDOT–S films were switched at a voltage of 1·9 V with a switching speed of 2 s at λ _max of 565 nm and showed a contrast of ∼37%. Cyclic voltammetry performed at different scan rates have shown the characteristic anodic and cathodic peaks. The structural investigations of PProDOT–S films by IR spectra were in good agreement with previously reported results. Raman spectra of PProDOT–S showed a strong Raman peak at 1509 cm^− 1 and a weak peak at 1410 cm^− 1 due to the C = C asymmetric and symmetric stretching vibrations of thiophene rings. The morphological investigations carried out by using scanning electron microscope (SEM) of polymer films have shown that these polymers are found to be arranged in dense packed clusters with non-uniform distribution having an average width and length of 95 nm and 160 nm, respectively.