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Article: Conducting polymers: smart materials with nanotechnology applications: polymers have traditionally been thought of as nonconductors of electricity. This perspective, however, has now changed with the introduction of plastics that exhibit conductive behaviour similar to that of metals and semiconductors.(EUROPE)
- Article from:
- Plastics Engineering
- Article date:
- November 1, 2008
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2008 Society of Plastics Engineers, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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[ILLUSTRATION OMITTED]
Commonly known as "conducting polymers" or "synthetic metals," these materials can replace gold or platinum, and are prominent candidates for biomimetic (bionic) applications.
The chemistry of this special class of materials differs significantly from that of traditional polymers. Conducting polymers are conjugated (have alternating single and double bonds), having extended delocalised [pi]-bonds ([sp.sup.2] orbitals) along the polymer backbone. It is the [pi]-orbital delocalisation (single-double bond alternation) that facilitates the electron mobility and charge transport within the conducting polymer chain. By contrast, ...