Electropolymerized poly(3,4-ethylenedioxyselenophene) on flexible substrate: A comparative study of electronic and electrochromic properties with sulfur analogue and rigid substrate

Abstract

Recently, significant efforts have been devoted on poly(3,4-ethylenedioxyselenophene) (PEDOS) and its derivatives due to their promising properties for various optoelectronic applications. Surprisingly, no study has been reported on electrochemical synthesis of PEDOS on flexible substrate, and its optoelectronic properties. In this work, electropolymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxyselenophene (EDOS) on flexible (ITO/PET) as well as rigid (ITO/glass) substrates, followed by cyclic voltammetry, electrochemical stability, morphology, spectroelectrochemical, and electrochromic properties of the PEDOS films were studied. For comparison purpose, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) films were also prepared on both flexible and rigid substrates and a throughout comparison was made. It has been observed that the polymer films on flexible substrates are relatively more stable, rough, and show blue shift in absorption spectra as compared to the polymer films on rigid substrates. On repeated bending, polymers films on flexible substrate exhibits good mechanical stability. Moreover, polymer film on flexible substrate has improved contrast ratio than that of polymer film on rigid substrate, whereas no significant change of response time has been observed. To the best of our knowledge, electropolymerization of EDOS on flexible substrate has been reported for the first time.