Posted on 10/27/2022 4:23:07 PM PDT by BenLurkin
The research shows how to make a kind of material in which the molecular fragments are jumbled and disordered, but can still conduct electricity extremely well.
By far the oldest and largest group of conductors is the metals: copper, gold, aluminum. Then, about 50 years ago, scientists were able to create conductors made out of organic materials, using a chemical treatment known as "doping," which sprinkles in different atoms or electrons through the material.
This is advantageous because these materials are more flexible and easier to process than traditional metals, but the trouble is...they can lose their conductivity if exposed to moisture or if the temperature gets too high.
But fundamentally, both of these organic and traditional metallic conductors share a common characteristic. They are made up of straight, closely packed rows of atoms or molecules. This means that electrons can easily flow through the material, much like cars on a highway. In fact, scientists thought a material had to have these straight, orderly rows in order to conduct electricity efficiently.
Xie began experimenting with some materials discovered years ago, but largely ignored. He strung nickel atoms like pearls into a string of of molecular beads made of carbon and sulfur, and began testing.
To the scientists' astonishment, the material easily and strongly conducted electricity. What's more, it was very stable. "We heated it, chilled it, exposed it to air and humidity, and even dripped acid and base on it, and nothing happened," said Xie.
After tests, simulations, and theoretical work, they think that the material forms layers, like sheets in a lasagna. Even if the sheets rotate sideways, no longer forming a neat lasagna stack, electrons can still move horizontally or vertically—as long as the pieces touch.
(Excerpt) Read more at phys.org ...
Spray-on ‘metallic’ plastic could be used for wearable electronics - Metallopolymer conducts electricity and can be painted, sprayed or moulded into any shape
Is it, ‘Flubber?’ Because I think Fred Mac Murry already holds that patent. Or Jerry Lewis. ;)
What about mercury? I use old Honeywell thermostats on all of my trip wires to send a signal via 2 meter to my computer. Mercury is the central part of turning the mechanical event into an electrical one.
“Plasteel”
We used conductive polymers as EMI shielding gaskets back in the 1980s.
Sounds good for civilization.
Environmentalists will get it killed within a year.
I AM IRON MAN!!! Or maybe plastic man with an iron coating?
Mouse traps and plastic spoons with a trip wire work too
Mice will find it tasty like they do the soy based wiring in cars now.
2005 Chevy Tahoe $1,350 worth of electrical repairs from chipmunks that like GM environmentally friendly soy based insulation.
Or Electro Man with a plastic coating!
This could help laser sharks.
And now the plastic like material can conduct electricity and complete the circuit.
That would be really bad when you hook up the battery.
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