The use of thiophene based conducting polymers in organic field effect transistors (OFETs) have been extensively studied over the past several years. Photochromism is the ability of a molecule to undergo reversible structural changes upon absorption of a photon. It is possible to observe interesting properties when the photochromic effect is coupled to a conducting polymer as light is an ideal, harmless, selective external trigger signal. Among different classes of photochromic materials indoline sporopyrans are notable for their high sensitivity and resolving power, exhibiting photochromic properties in solution, in polymeric matrices and even in solid state, which is very convenient for their practical applications. Even though the chemical doping of spiropyran with thiophene based conducting polymers is reported, their application is limited due to the use of low amounts to suppress phase separation. Here we report a novel synthetic route to incorporate photochromic spiropyran as a pendant group to polythiophene.

Novel synthetic route towards incorporating photochromic spiropyrans into thiopohene based semiconducting polymers

251st National Meeting (2016)

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