Molecular Order Imprint Polymerization of Furan–Thiophene-Based Monomers with Electrochemical Polymerization in Chiral Liquid Crystals

A polymerization reaction in chiral liquid crystal produced electro-optically active polymers from achiral furan–thiophene-based monomers. The set of polymers prepared in this study had characteristics of liquid crystal molecular order and organic semiconductors. The optically active aromatic copolymers were synthesized via an electrochemical method in cholesteric liquid crystals (Ch-LCs). Electrical properties and chirality can be tuned to choose suitable monomer units. The polymers obtained were evaluated by polarizing optical microscopy (POM), circular dichroism, UV–vis spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, reflectance spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and atomic force microscopy. POM observations of the products showed a vortex-type fingerprint texture. Polymerization of the monomers containing only two active polymerization sites produced the resultant compounds with good transcription of the fingerprint texture and chirality from the Ch-LC electrolyte solution. The membrane-forming behavior can be improved by introducing furans at the edges of monomers. The absorption bands derived from polarons and bipolarons as charge carriers of conducting polymers can be tuned by an electrical redox process and hydrazine vaporization treatment. Electrical control for the optical activity of the furan–thiophene-based polymers was achieved.