Electrochromic (EC) devices based on conjugated polymers (CPs) with optical activity was developed. Asymmetric EC polymers are synthesised through electrochemical polymerisation in cholesteric liquid crystals (CLCs). This asymmetric polymerisation method transcribes the helical structure of CLCs to CPs. The EC performance of chiral EC polymers remains insufficiently explored. This study elucidated the impact of the electronic and structural properties of chiral EC polymers on their EC performances, focusing on optical contrast, response time, and cycle stability. Compared with 3,4-(ethylenedithia)thiophene (EDTT) units with an electron-withdrawing group, 3,4-(ethylenedioxy)thiophene (EDOT) units with an electron-donating group exhibited a stable oxidation state, enhanced cycle stability, and accelerated response time. Moreover, 3,4-(propylenedioxy)thiophene adorned with bulky methyl groups (dMProDOT) had a higher EC performance, characterised by a bleaching/colouring time of 1.1 s and high cycle stability. The EC performance of these asymmetric EC polymers was significantly influenced by the structural and electrical properties of the constituent units. The findings of this study provide valuable molecular design guidelines for the application and optimisation of the asymmetric EC polymers.

中文翻译：

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非对称电致变色器件的快速颜色切换

开发了基于具有光学活性的共轭聚合物（CP）的电致变色（EC）器件。不对称 EC 聚合物是通过胆甾型液晶 (CLC) 中的电化学聚合合成的。这种不对称聚合方法将 CLC 的螺旋结构转录为 CP。手性 EC 聚合物的 EC 性能尚未得到充分探索。本研究阐明了手性 EC 聚合物的电子和结构特性对其 EC 性能的影响，重点关注光学对比度、响应时间和循环稳定性。与具有吸电子基团的3,4-(乙撑二硫)噻吩(EDTT)单元相比，具有给电子基团的3,4-(乙二氧基)噻吩(EDOT)单元表现出稳定的氧化态、增强的循环稳定性和加快响应时间。此外，带有大甲基的3,4-(丙二氧基)噻吩(dMProDOT)具有更高的EC性能，其漂白/着色时间为1.1 s，循环稳定性高。这些不对称EC聚合物的EC性能受到组成单元的结构和电性能的显着影响。本研究的结果为不对称EC聚合物的应用和优化提供了有价值的分子设计指南。