An Optically Active Polythiophene Exhibiting Electrochemically Driven Light‐Interference Modulation |
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Authors: | Hiromasa Goto |
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Affiliation: | Institute of Materials Science, University of Tsukuba Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305‐8573 (Japan) |
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Abstract: | Optically active polythiophene (PT*) is successfully prepared by electrochemical polymerization using a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) electrolyte solution. Polarizing optical microscopy observations of the polymer reveal a well‐resolved fingerprint texture similar to the optical texture of the CLC. Circular dichroism measurements indicate a Cotton effect. The PT* film produced by the asymmetric polymerization in CLC exhibits a variable diffraction function, electrochemically driven refractive index modulation, and electrochromism originating from the periodic dielectric structure, representing a form of structural electrochromism. |
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Keywords: | chirality conducting polymers liquid crystals refractive index modulation structural color |
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