Electrochromic Effects of Conducting Polymers in Water and Acetonitrile

Abstract Polymer films of several N-substituted pyrroles were deposited on Au electrodes by electrochemical oxidation of the corresponding monomers in CH3 CN electrolyte. Cyclic voltammetry and light reflection measurements were performed in both CH3CN and H2O electrolytes after preparation. The results indicated that while all films were electrochemically and electrochromically active in CH3CN, a variety of behavior was observed in H2O. Poly-N-metnyl-pyrrole films exhibited large optical changes in H2O, whereas N-benzyl and N-tolyl derivatives were less active, and N-phenyl and N-bensoyl films were inactive.