Substituent effects to the electrochromic behaviors of electropolymerized metallophthalocyanine thin films

Metallophthalocyanines (MPcs) (M = 2H⁺, Zn²⁺, Co²⁺, and Cu²⁺) bearing diethylaminophenoxy and chloro substituents at the peripheral positions (MPc-tdea-tCl) were coated on the working electrodes with the electropolymerization and tested as electrochromic materials. Altering the metal center of MPcs affected the redox activities of MPc-tdea-tCl films. All electropolymerized MPc-tdea-tCl films behaved as conductive and redox active films in different electrolyte systems. Electrochromic properties of MPc-tdea-tCl films were investigated via the voltammetric, in situ spectroelectrochemical, and in situ spectroelectrocolorimetric measurements. H₂Pc-tdea-tCl film did not give any electrochromic response, while ZnPc-tdea-tCl and CuPc-tdea-tCl films behave as a reasonable electrochromic material. Distinctive color changes with short response times, high optical contrast, and better optical and coulombic stabilities were only observed with CoPc-tdea-tCl film.