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The wonderful world of polyacetylene: Why is it the pioneer of conducting polymers?
Polyacetylene, a small molecule polymer derived from acetylene, has a repeating unit [C2H2]n in its structure that has not only led to the research of conductive polymers, but has also changed the face of microelectronics.
The discovery of polyacetylene has opened a new chapter in the research of organic conductive materials. This revolutionary achievement stems from its amazing electrical conductivity. Polyacetylene has been in the spotlight since the industrious chemists Hideki Shirakawa, Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid conducted intensive research on its electrical conductivity in the 1970s, winning the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000. recognition.
The molecular structure of polyacetylene is characterized by its long chain of carbon atoms, accompanied by alternating single bonds and double bonds, and each carbon atom also has a hydrogen atom. Such a structure makes the conductivity of polyacetylene closely related to its unique geometric structure. In particular, its double bond can adopt either a cis or trans geometric configuration, which directly affects its stability and physical properties.
The success of highly conductive polyacetylene is not only a small step in materials science, but a big step in the development of organic conductive polymers.
The history of polyacetylene can be traced back to 1958, when Italian chemist Giulio Natta successfully synthesized linear polyacetylene for the first time. Although its research was once neglected, it was not until Hideki Shirakawa and others made a breakthrough in producing silver polyacetylene film in the 1970s that it was brought back to the scientific community's attention. As these chemists studied the electrical properties of polyacetylene, they discovered its amazing conductivity, which they further enhanced through doping, thus pioneering the field of organic semiconductors.
While exploring methods for synthesizing polyacetylene, the researchers discovered that polymerizing acetylene through a Ziegler–Natta catalyst could effectively produce the desired long-chain polymers. In addition, new synthetic routes such as ring-opening polymerization (ROMP) and photopolymerization have also been developed, making the synthesis of polyacetylene more flexible and diverse.
The electrical conductivity of polyacetylene lies in the charge transfer complex formed in its chain. Especially when it undergoes a combination reaction with Halod metal, the electrical conductivity can be increased by almost seven orders of magnitude.
As the potential of polyacetylene in organic conducting polymers is explored, researchers are faced with overcoming various challenges in the commercial application of polyacetylene. For example, polyacetylene is very sensitive to air and moisture, and even subtle oxidation can cause a significant drop in its conductivity. To inhibit these degradations, scientists began looking for coating materials to improve their stability.
While polyacetylene currently has no real foothold in commercial applications, interest in conducting polymers continues. Many researchers have turned to other conducting polymers such as polythiophene and polyaniline because they are more substitutable and have better prospects for solution processing.
From the research on polyacetylene, we see the infinite possibilities of the interaction between chemistry and materials science. Does this mean that high-tech materials will continue to set off a new wave in the future?
The story of polyacetylene, a conductive polymer, is not only a story of material development, but also a model of scientific innovation and technological application. As our understanding of polymers deepens, new innovations may emerge in the future, and we may see polyacetylene return to the scientific stage again and bring unexpected breakthroughs. In view of this, in this rapidly developing field of materials science, do you think the new vitality of polyacetylene will once again change the face of our technology?
