A series of near-infrared (NIR) electrochromic aromatic poly(aryl ether)s containing N,N,N',N'-tetraphenyl-p-phenylenediamine (TPPA) moieties in the backbone were prepared from the high-temperature polycondensation reactions of a biphenol monomer, 2,5-bis(diphenylamino)hydroquinone, with difluoro compounds. The obtained polymers were readily soluble in many organic solvents and showed useful levels of thermal stability associated with high glass-transition temperatures (182-205 degrees C) and high char yields (higher than 40% at 800 degrees C in nitrogen). The polymer films showed reversible electrochemical oxidation with high contrast ratio both in the visible range and NIR region, and also exhibited high coloration efficiency (CE), low switching time, and stability for electrochromic operation. The polyether TPPA-a thin film revealed good CE in visible (CE = 217 cm(2)/C) and NIR (CE = 192 cm(2)/C) region with reversible electroactive stability (over 500 times within 5% loss relative to its initial injected charge). (C) 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5378-5385, 2009