Blend or copolymer? Spectroelectrochemical evidence of copolymerization and blending of two electrochromic monomers

A dipyrromethane functionalized monomer, 5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)dipyrromethane (DP), was synthesized to examine the spectral differences of its copolymer and blend with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene. Electrochemical polymerization, copolymerization, and blending of DP were achieved in LiClO4/Acetonitrile. Spectral and electrochromic properties of products were investigated. Spectral properties of copolymer and blend revealed great differences from each other and also from their corresponding homopolymers. Effect of monomer feed ratio on the spectral properties of copolymer was also investigated.