Abstract

Polythiophenes are an important representative class of conjugated polymers that form some of the most environmentally and thermally stable materials that can be used as electrical conductors, nonlinear optical devices, polymer LEDs, electrochromic windows, sensors, solar cells, polymer electronic interconnects, nanoelectronic and optical devices.1 Gaining control over the structure, properties, and function in polythiophenes continues to make the synthesis of polythiophenes a critical subject in the development of new advanced materials. An enhancement in the electronic and photonic properties of the materials and the creation of new functions, such as new sensory materials, critically depends on the synthesis of the polythiophene.4 This leads to the exciting prospect that the properties of polythiophenes can be selectively engineered through synthesis and assembly. Herein, we show the incorporation of molecular photochromic switches, such as benzospiropyran, into the polythiophene backbone. These are an intriguing class of organic molecules, which allow the control of molecular structure and function with light.2, 3 This offers the possibility of inducing dramatic changes to the bulk properties of a system by photonic irradiation. More importantly, benzospiropyran forms photo- reversible transition metal ion complexes. Herein, we present our work on the electro-chemical and optical properties of these hybrid materials.