A method for forming an electrochromic polymer block includes: forming each of reaction units by reacting two or more electron-donor groups, wherein each of the reaction units includes (i) a first backbone formed by the two or more electron-donor groups and (ii) at least one reactive functional group connected to each end of the first backbone; and forming the electrochromic polymer block by reacting at least two of the reaction units with acid-catalyzed cationic polymerization, wherein the electrochromic polymer block includes a second backbone formed by two or more of the first backbones.

The present invention provides, among other aspects, stabilized chromophoric nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are rationally functionalized with a pre-determined number of functional groups. In certain embodiments, the stable chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are modified with a low density of functional groups. In yet other embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are conjugated to one or more molecules. Also provided herein are methods for making rationally functionalized chromophoric nanoparticles.

Described herein are compositions comprising hole carrier materials, typically conjugated polymers, and fluoropolymers ink compositions comprising hole carrier materials and fluoropolymers, and uses thereof, for example, in organic electronic devices.

A gel electrolyte precursor composition, an electrochromic device including a gel electrolyte formed from the precursor composition, and methods of forming the electrochromic device, the precursor composition including polymer network precursors including polyurethane acrylate oligomers, an ionically conducting phase, and an initiator.

A method for preparing a conjugated polymer involves a DHAP polymerization of a 3,4-dioxythiophene, 3,4-dioxyfuran, or 3,4-dioxypyrrole and, optionally, at least one second conjugated monomer in the presence of a Pd or Ni comprising catalyst, an aprotic solvent, a carboxylic acid at a temperature in excess of 120° C. At least one of the monomers is substituted with hydrogen reactive functionalities and at least one of the monomers is substituted with a Cl, Br, and/or I. The polymerization can be carried out at temperature of 140° C. or more, and the DHAP polymerization can be carried out without a phosphine ligand or a phase transfer agent. The resulting polymer can display dispersity less than 2 and have a degree of polymerization in excess of 10.

To provide a water-soluble polythiophene used as an electrically conductive material, and its production method. A polythiophene comprising at least one type of structural units selected from the group consisting of structural units represented by the formula (1), structural units represented by the formula (2), structural units represented by the formula (3), structural units represented by the formula (4), structural units represented by the formula (5) and structural units represented by the formula (6). The polythiophene is obtained by polymerizing at least one thiophene compound selected from the group consisting of a thiophene compound represented by the formula (15), a thiophene compound represented by the formula (16) and a thiophene compound represented by the formula (17) in water or an alcohol solvent in the presence of an oxidizing agent.

Copolymers including dioxythiophene repeating units and no acceptor units allow the formation of electrochromic polymers (ECPs) with vivid neutral state colors and very colorless oxidized states that can be switched rapidly. The dioxythiophene repeating units can included in sequences where all of one type of dioxythiophene is included exclusively as isolated dyads or triads within the copolymer, or the copolymer can be an alternating copolymer with propylenedioxythiophene units. Other non-acceptor units can be included in the copolymers. The copolymers are rendered organic solvent soluble by alkyl substituents on repeating units. The inclusion of sterically encumbered acyclic dioxythiophene (AcDOT) units promotes red color while unsubstituted ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) units promote blue colors, and their respective content can be manipulated to achieve a desired neutral state color. Soluble copolymers comprising at least 50% EDOT repeating units can be used in supercapacitor applications.

Yellow electrochromic polymers (ECPs) are prepared that display a yellow neutral state and a highly transmissive oxidized state. The ECPs are copolymers where a dyad of dioxyhetereocyclic repeating unis alternate with a monad of an aromatic repeating unit. An alternate yellow ECP has an oxidation potential of 450 mV or less and is an alternating copolymer of an acyclic dioxythiophene (AcDOT) or a propylene dioxythiophene (ProDOT) with an aromatic repeating unit that has an electron donating substituent. The yellow ECPs can be processed from solution for electrochromic devices.

This disclosure relates generally to electrochromic polymers that include a plurality of π-conjugated chromophores in spaced relation with one another, and a plurality of conjugation-break spacers (CBSs), where at least one CBS separates adjacent chromophores. The chromophores may be colored in the neutral state, and multicolored to transmissive in different oxidization states.

The present invention provides, among other aspects, stabilized chromophoric nanoparticles. In certain embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are rationally functionalized with a pre-determined number of functional groups. In certain embodiments, the stable chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are modified with a low density of functional groups. In yet other embodiments, the chromophoric nanoparticles provided herein are conjugated to one or more molecules. Also provided herein are methods for making rationally functionalized chromophoric nanoparticles.