An Electrochromic Nanostructured Liquid Crystal Consisting of π-Conjugated and Ionic Moieties

A new electrochromic molecule comprised of pi-conjugated and ionic moieties has been designed and synthesized. It forms a nanosegregated smectic phase in which ion-conductive layers of imidazolium salts are located between hole transport layers of phenylterthiophene moieties. Electrochromism is observed in the bulk liquid crystal state of this compound without an electrolyte solution. In this nanosegregated smectic phase, an electrical double layer is formed rapidly at the electrode. Consequently holes are injected from the electrode, resulting in oxidation of the pi-conjugated moieties.