Solvent and temperature effects on the chromic behaviour of poly[3-(10-hydroxydecyl)-2,5-thienylene]

Abstract The chromic behaviour of a soluble ω-hydroxydecyl 3-substituted polythiophene has been investigated by UV–VIS spectroscopy in different solvent/non-solvent mixtures over a wide range of low temperatures. Some interesting new effects have been observed that is the first case of a reversal of the solvatochromic transformation in substituted polythiopenes and a concentration effect in dilute pure solvent solutions. A molecular approach based on solvent–polymer interactions has been adopted to study the conformational chromic transformation of the polymer.