Electrochromism of novel triphenylamine‐containing polyamide polymers

ABSTRACT A series of novel polymers (coded as BCT‐1 to BCT‐6 (BTC is block triphenylamine)) based on N 1 ‐(4‐aminophenyl)‐ N 1 ‐phenyl benzene‐1,4‐diamine, pyridine‐2,6‐dicarboxylic acid, 4,4′‐(phenyl azanediyl)dibenzoic acid (PDA), and different diamine compounds were synthesized successfully through a polymer condensation reaction. For comparison, model polymers, BCT–2,6‐pyridine dicarboxylic acid (PA) and BCT–PDA, were synthesized as well. The electrochromic properties of the BCTs were determined via an electrochemical workstation and a UV–visible spectrophotometer. Through electrooxidation, the polymer films showed reversible redox processes and steady color changes. In a comparision of the electrochromic characteristics of the BCTs, almost all the novel polymer films showed a better electrochromism stability, a higher electrochromic coloration efficiency (CE), and a more rapid switching time than BCT–PA and BCT–PDA. Among these polymers, BCT‐1 exhibited the highest CE of 266.7 cm 2 /C, and BCT‐4 showed the most rapid switching time (color switching time = 3.08 s and bleaching time = 2.01 s). © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci. 2019 , 136 , 47264.