Polymer electrochromism has been considered one of the liveliest branches of conducting polymer research, a tradition continued in the last decade. We have witnessed numerous significant advances, making commercial applications closer than ever. This feature article highlights these advances by separating them into 3 sections. The material design section emphasizes the new molecular structures that have been utilized as electrochromic materials and their promising results. The color control of polymeric electrochromics section focuses on the recent achievements towards realization of full color electrochromic display devices, lastly the advances en route commercial applications section demonstrates how some of the major drawbacks towards commercialization have been successfully addressed.

This report highlights the synthesis of only the second green polymer in the literature, which possesses superior properties over the first: a highly transmissive light blue color in the oxidized state with high optical contrast and excellent switching properties.

A polymer switching between all RGB colors, black and transmissive states was synthesized. The polymer (PTBT) is soluble, processable, both p- and n-dopable, fluorescent and its properties in entire spectrum offer potential uses in NIR devices, LEDs and solar cells. PTBT possesses almost all properties in a single polymer for optoelectronic applications.

The combination of nanomaterials and conducting polymers attracted remarkable attention for development of new immobilization matrices for enzymes. Hereby, an efficient surface design was investigated by modifying the graphite rod electrode surfaces with one-step electrospun nylon 6,6 nanofibers or 4% (w/w) multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) incorporating nylon 6,6 nanofibers (nylon 6,6/4MWCNT). High-resolution transmission electron microscopy study confirmed the successful incorporation of the MWCNTs into the nanofiber matrix for nylon 6,6/4MWCNT sample. Then, these nanofibrous surfaces were coated with a conducting polymer, (poly-4-(4,7-di(thiophen-2-yl)-1H-benzo[d]imidazol-2-yl)benzaldehyde) (PBIBA) to obtain a high electroactive surface area as new functional immobilization matrices. Due to the free aldehyde groups of the polymeric structures, a model enzyme, glucose oxidase was efficiently immobilized to the modified surfaces via covalent binding. Scanning electron microscope images confirmed that the nanofibrous structures were protected after the electrodeposition step of PBIBA and a high amount of protein attachment was successfully achieved by the help of high surface to volume ratio of electroactive nanofiber matrices. The biosensors were characterized in terms of their operational and storage stabilities and kinetic parameters (K_m^app and I_max). The resulting novel glucose biosensors revealed good stability and promising I_max values (10.03 and 16.67 μA for nylon 6,6/PBIBA and nylon 6,6/4MWCNT/PBIBA modified biosensors, respectively) and long shelf life (32 and 44 days for nylon 6,6/PBIBA and nylon 6,6/4MWCNT/PBIBA modified biosensors, respectively). Finally, the biosensor was tested on beverages for glucose detection.