An Optically Active Polythiophene Exhibiting Electrochemically Driven Light-Interference Modulation

Optically active polythiophene (PT*) is successfully prepared by electrochemical polymerization using a cholesteric liquid crystal (CLC) electrolyte solution. Polarizing optical microscopy observatior of the polymer reveal a well-resolved finger-print texture similar to the optical texture of the CLC. Circular dichroism measurements indicate a Cotton effect 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.