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Multi-colored electrochromic devices based on mixed mono- and bi-substituted 4,4′-bipyridine derivatives containing an ester group

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Abstract

This paper aims to develop a multi-colored electrochromic device based on mixed mono- and bi-substituted 4,4′-bipyridine derivatives containing an ester group. A series of these derivatives were synthesized, and their electrochemical and electrochromic properties were studied through cyclic voltammetry and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy. The mono- and bi-substituted 4,4′-bipyridine derivatives containing an ester group displayed different onset bias and colored state. Mono-substituted 4,4′-bipyridine derivatives showed a magenta colored state at an onset bias of − 1.3 V; bi-substituted 4,4′-bipyridine derivatives showed violet colored states at an onset bias of − 0.8 V. A multi-colored electrochromic device was achieved by mixing mono- and bi-substituted 4,4′-bipyridine derivatives as the electrochromic layer.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank Chongqing Science and Technology Commission (cstc2017shmsA0104), Chongqing City Board of Education (CY170220 and CY170205) and the National Natural Science Foundation of China (20872121) for the financial support for this research.

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Correspondence to Qian Tang or Cheng-Bin Gong.

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Zhu, CR., Long, JF., Tang, Q. et al. Multi-colored electrochromic devices based on mixed mono- and bi-substituted 4,4′-bipyridine derivatives containing an ester group. J Appl Electrochem 48, 1121–1129 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10800-018-1190-6

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