Electropolymerized 1D Growth Coordination Polymer for Hybrid Electrochromic Aqueous Zinc Battery

Organic materials are always viewed as promising electrochromic (EC) materials due to their synthetic versatility, color tunability, ready processability, and derivability from sustainable feedstocks. Most organic materials, however, are prone to undesirable redox side reactions in the presence of oxygen and water. As such, redox–active organic layers are often used in tandem with organic electrolytes to preserve their electrochemical stability. With the growing interest in electronics that are environmentally sustainable and biologically safe, developing aqueous‐compatible organic materials is gaining growing interest. Herein, a rationally designed iron terpyridyl coordination polymer (CP) is prepared by controlled electropolymerization for realization of aqueous compatible EC and energy storage applications. Detailed analysis is established, showing that the CP grows in a 1D fashion and exhibits a predominant capacitive behavior which is reflected from its rapid charge–transfer kinetics. Taking this as an advantage, an integrated hybrid electrochromic zinc battery device is demonstrated with high color contrast, fast response time, and good endurance. Electropolymerization of rationally designed iron–terpyridyl complexes forms 1D growth coordination polymer with the ability to electrochemically switch between the initial purplish‐blue state and the bleached transparent state in an aqueous electrolyte. The modified electrode is used to construct an integrated hybrid electrochromic zinc battery exhibiting both electrochromic and energy‐storage abilities with good endurance in the aqueous environment.