In a recent study, scientists created a plastic-like material that can conduct electricity like metal yet is easy to mould. The Independent reported that even they are unable to explain it.
This information may be found in a recent study published on Wednesday, October 26, in the journal Nature under the title “Intrinsic glassy-metallic transport in an amorphous coordination polymer.”
Can a Plastic Like Material Conduct Electricity?
According to the most recent research, scientists created a new type of substance in which the components are not arranged in a specific order but instead are mixed up. Despite this, it is nevertheless highly effective at conducting electricity.
According to the study’s findings, the material can withstand being bent, compressed, and moulded into numerous shapes. The inventors liken it to “conductive Play-Doh” since it can take on many shapes while still conducting electricity to flow through it.
This Might Open up New Avenues for the Conductivity of Metals
According to the researchers who made it, the finding will open the way for cutting-edge methods of making electrical devices.
For instance, the necessity to melt metal into the correct shape limits the design of a modern chip or device, which may cause problems for other parts. On the other hand, since the new material can be created at room temperature, there is a lower chance of unfavourable outcomes.
The substance’s tolerance to high temperatures, high levels of humidity, and potent acids and bases suggests that it could be used to create electronics that work in conditions where more typical materials would fail.
More on Plastic Like Materials that Conduct Electricity
The material is foldable similar to plastic, yet it conducts electricity far better than metal. Scientists find the discovery intriguing because it defies their expectations and may open the door to discoveries.
According to the study’s principal author, John Anderson, an associate professor of chemistry at the University of Chicago, “this opens up the design of a whole new class of materials that transmit electricity, are easy to form, and are highly resilient in everyday situations.”
However, he noted that there is no plausible theory to account for this. Therefore this element “should not be able to be a metal” from a fundamental standpoint.
Scientists have developed a variety of plastic-like materials, and the differences between them have made it possible for us to build a wide variety of electrical devices that work in different conditions. Despite these differences, conductive materials share some characteristics. According to scientists, electricity still needs to be carried by straight, compact molecules or atoms.
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