2023-12-17 04:00:00
The birth of plastic that conducts electricity [우리가 몰랐던 과학 이야기] (324)
Article entered 2023-12-17 13:00:00
Article modified 2023-12-10 17:20:59
Does plastic conduct electricity?
It was common knowledge that plastic did not conduct electricity. But I think we need to break away from this prejudice. It’s because of plastic that conducts electricity. This is called conductive plastic. Let’s find out what plastics that conduct electricity are used for.
◆The birth of plastic that conducts electricity
Three scientists who received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their work on plastics that conduct electricity. Source=
When we think of electricity conducting, we tend to first think of metals such as copper or silver.
Plastic does not have electrons that can transfer electricity, so it is inherently impervious to electricity. In order for plastic to conduct electricity, it must be made so that electrons can move within it. To achieve this, the plastic molecular structure must be specially created.
In 1970, a researcher in the team of Japanese chemist Professor Hideki Shirakawa of the Tokyo Institute of Technology (right in the photo just above) made the mistake of adding an excessive amount of reaction catalyst. As a result, a silver-colored polymer thin film was formed on the surface of the reaction solution, which was confirmed to be pure trans-form polyacetylene.
Polyacetylene molecular structure. Source=
Polyacetylene has a molecular structure in which carbon atoms are lined up like a chain, with single and double bonds arranged alternately.
Polyacetylene was a material known to have the property of conducting electricity, and when American chemist Alan Graham McDermid, a professor at the University of Pennsylvania (center in the second photo above), heard about the results of this research, physicist Alan Heeger, a professor at UC Berkeley (〃 〃 〃 left), We will even invite you to do joint research.
Ultimately, these scientists developed plastic that conducts electricity and received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000. This marks the beginning of a full-fledged ‘plastic electronic era.’
◆Necessity of conductive plastic
You may be thinking, ‘There are many metals that conduct electricity well, so why do we need such plastic?’
In order to block electromagnetic waves emitted from electronic products such as computers, TVs, laptops, and mobile phones, the case must be made of metal. However, if that happens, it becomes heavy and the price goes up.
By using conductive plastic, it is possible to produce products that are lightweight and can block electromagnetic waves at an affordable price. In other words, the development of conductive plastics is inevitable because it not only makes electronic products lighter, but also makes them more price competitive.
◆Use of conductive plastic
Smart Windows. Source=
So what changes will conductive plastic bring to our lives?
Conductive plastic changes color depending on the intensity of voltage or changes in light. Using this, we can develop smart windows that change color depending on the weather.
Smart windows can provide a cooling effect by turning them dark in the summer to block light entering the room. Conversely, in winter, windows are made transparent to increase indoor temperature and brighten the room.
In the Netherlands, speakers were made using electrically conductive plastic. Many companies are working to develop new products using conductive plastics.
Conductive plastics are still in their infancy and have endless potential. Currently, we are developing computer screen protectors and semiconductor polymer light-emitting diodes (LEDs) using conductive plastics, as well as actively researching the development of flexible and mobile phone displays.
It is expected that electronic products made entirely of conductive plastic without metal will soon be available.
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