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Revolution in Chemistry: How does polyacetylene lead the wave of organic semiconductors?
Polyacetylene, a once little-known organic polymer, has sparked a revolution in chemistry and microelectronics through its unexpected electrical conductivity. The synthesis and exploration of this material not only made researchers rethink the potential of organic materials, but also paved the way for the development of organic semiconductors.
The discovery of the conductivity of polyacetylene has led to a boom in the research of organic conducting polymers.
The basic structure of polyacetylene consists of a long chain of carbon atoms with alternating single and double bonds between them. This unique structure gives it a high degree of conjugation, which affects its electrical properties. Over time, scientists discovered the formation of different isomers of polyacetylene while exploring its synthesis and properties.
In 1958, Italian chemist Giulio Natta synthesized linear polyacetylene for the first time, and this achievement became the cornerstone of future polyacetylene research. However, because the early synthesized polyacetylene products were black, insoluble in water and sensitive to air, enthusiasm for its research waned in the short term. In the 1970s, Hideki Shirakawa and his team successfully prepared bright polyacetylene films. This breakthrough brought widespread attention to the research on polyacetylene again.
The team found that after doping, the conductivity of polyacetylene can be increased by seven orders of magnitude.
Polyacetylene can be synthesized in a variety of ways, the most common being by passing acetylene gas over a catalyst. By varying the catalyst loading and reaction conditions, the researchers can control the structure and properties of polyacetylene. This is particularly important because the conductivity of polyacetylene depends largely on its structure.
However, the stability of polyacetylene remains a major obstacle. It is air sensitive and will oxidize rapidly upon contact with oxygen, resulting in reduced conductivity. Although scientists have taken various approaches to improve its stability, such as coating it with materials such as polyethylene and wax, the usefulness of polyacetylene in commercial applications remains limited.
The high conductivity of polyacetylene sparked interest in organic semiconductors, a field that continues to this day.
With the deepening of research on polyacetylene, gas phase doping technology and electrochemical doping technology have greatly improved the conductivity of polyacetylene materials. This discovery gradually makes polyacetylene materials more promising in future applications. With the advancement of materials science, attention on organic conductive polymers has gradually shifted to other materials such as polythiophene and polyaniline.
Nevertheless, the low solubility and environmental sensitivity of polyacetylene make its practical application still obscure. Researchers generally believe that improving the stability and processability of polyacetylene will be the focus of future research.
After years of exploration and development, the discovery of polyacetylene has undoubtedly opened up a new path for organic semiconductors. However, will this material play a more important role in future scientific and technological innovation?
