Conductive polymers are a specific section under the broad range of polymers, that have the ability to effectively conduct electricity. They were discovered by accident in a lab by Hideki Shirakawa in 1974, yet their potential applications were not understood until early 2000s. They are made by doping with n-type and p-type which forces electrons to move throughout the material which normally would not happen because of a polymer molecular structure. They provide many advantages over metals because of they are light weight, cheap, and functional versatile. Conductive polymers are frequently used with rechargeable batteries, sensors, and light displays. Lastly, they have a bright future with the world turning towards wanting more technology that is light weight and integrated in the day-to-day functions.
A typical polymer is a very ductile, cheap, and light material that cannot handle high temperatures or electrical conductivity. Polymers are generally used for plastic bags and bottles, crates, toys, and insulation on electrical cables. Electrical conductivity is usually found only in metals because of its small to nonsexist band gap between the filled and empty bands. Electrons are able to move freely between the bands which is the current allowing everything to work. Polymers have a large enough band gap that makes it very difficult for electrons to go between the bands. Large amounts of energy would be needed to force electrons across this gap. However, with the addition
In the modern world, it is near impossible to live in an environment where one is not exposed and reliant upon the use of polymers. From credit cards to nappies; plastic bottles to prescription glasses, the applications of polymers encompass an endless range of everyday necessities. However, the significance of synthetic polymers was not universally recognised until its initial introduction as polyethylene during World War II. During the combat, they served as a critical material for insulated radar electronics (ACC, 2005).
Within the field of soft robotics, dealing with technology that more smoothly interfaces human interaction with technology while also providing a greater means of adaptability for robotic designs, is the growing study of improving and implementing electro-active polymer based devices. EAP devices may include sensors, actuators, energy storage systems, and any electronic device that has a base material of flexible polymers. The most significant characteristic of EAP devices includes is its multifunctional capabilities and conformable nature enabling the implementation of such devices into wearable/flexible devices. Non-intrusive devices made from lightweight organic compounds that can be regularly and comfortably worn have far
PPV, otherwise known as polyphenylene vinylene are electric conductors that processed into tiny films which emit a bright fluorescent yellow light which could potentially be a replacement for LEDS in electronics. PPV is prepared from p-xylene-bis and the addition of acetonitrile-tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate and from there, the product is treated with heat to eliminate diethyl sulfide, HCL, and ethyl sulfide to form the final product, PPV. Similarly, another method, called direct chemical polymerization, formed PPV but it was only in the form of powder which could not be turned into tiny films for commercial use. In lab, we learned that PPV precursor can be synthesized in a one step reaction from p-xylene using NBs. In the reaction with
Through the mixing of compounds and the use of a boiling technique three different polymers were formed. Polystyrene was formed by additional polymerization. The other two were formed through condensation polymerization, the difference being that Bakelite had a cross-linked design occur in the polymerization process, whereas nylon 6, 6 did not.
Polyethylene is a thermoplastic polymer consisting of long chains of the monomer ethylene and is abbreviated as PE. Polyethylene consists of the two chemical elements hydrogen and carbon. PE is created through the polymerization of ethene and is classified into several categories based primarily on its density and branching of its molecular structure and weight.
Polypropylene inherent properties of high firmness, great elasticity and inactivity toward acids, antacids and solvents has secured its position in an extensive variety of shopper and mechanical items (Kawasumi et al., 1997). The density of PP is between 0.895 and 0.92 g/cm³. Therefore, PP is the commodity plastic with the lowest density. With lower density, moldings parts with lower weight and more parts of a certain mass of plastic can be produced. Unlike polyethylene, crystalline and amorphous regions differ only slightly in their density. However, the density of polyethylene can significantly change with fillers (Tripathi, 2001). Polypropylene are likewise adaptable and can have high stretching before breaking. Polypropylene is also the
I hope to be able to apply my knowledge of chemistry in this field, and consequently to learn more, and to create more efficient and cleaner forms of rechargeable energy that can be applied to electronic devices such as laptops, phones, and even cars.
Compounds that contained a metal with a higher change had a higher conductivity. As you move to the right along the periodic table, the metals get more and more conductive, and then conductivity drops off as soon as you get to metalloids and then nonmetals. For an element to conduct electricity, it must contain electrons that are free to move [1], and as you move to the right through the metals, the number of these electrons increases. The conductivity values for DI and tap water are much lower than the conductivity of the compounds, and this is due to less concentration of ions in the water.
The major differences of these two chemical bonds are shown obviously in the lab. Metals has larger density values, higher hardness than polymers and able to conduct electricity while polymers is not able to. To understand the distinction in atomic bonding, one can utilize the knowledge in his
Plastic can be found in almost everything ranging from daily household objects like clothing, facewash and containers to intricate technology stated prior. Almost everything in our ever changing world has components of plastic, but what is it? Plastic is an organic polymer made up of coal, natural gas and oil. This material has restructured the way humans live. Its pliable, universally durable and inexpensive qualities allow almost anything to be constructed into plastic. These features are what make plastic so great yet so
There are three important qualities of content that researchers use as an assumption for most every research. The first is the kind of atoms that the content is created up of. You have your fairly neutral components and your substance components. Atom comes from the Ancient term atoms significance inseparable. (Trefil, 2010) Atoms create up everything we can see, therefore content, and atoms have very different qualities within themselves, as well as having different methods of being organized or of connection together, all of which impact the actual and substance qualities of whatever is created up of those atoms. Most components either perform electric current or don't succeed to perform electric current. However, there is a third kind of content that is not a really excellent electric conductor, and simultaneously, is not really an excellent insulator either. These components are known as semiconductors, such as rubber and germanium (Trefil, p. 243). The fairly neutral components have the same quantity of protons and electrons, which generally terminate each other out making them fairly neutral. The substance factor offers with mixing more than one factor. The second is the way those atoms are organized. An excellent example of this is by evaluating atoms of fluid and atoms of shades. For example the atoms of fluids shift around freer than atoms of shades which are loaded together. The third is the way the atoms are insured together. There are for key qualities to
When metal is formed into a single, flexible strand, or fiber, it is called wire. Metal wire has been used by humans in jewelry and other decorative items since the beginning of the use of metal in the second millennium B.C. This type of use primarily involved precious metals like gold and silver; but also more common metals like copper. But with the discovery of electromagnetism, metal wire was found to be a good conductor of electricity, especially that made of copper. As with most electrical devices, the current form of electrical wire was invented by the Father of Electricity, Thomas Edison. He was awarded a patent in 1892 for what he described as an "electric conductor," but was really an insulated wire that was both water and fire proof. Edison's invention consisted of a conducting wire, a covering made of cotton braid, and an outer covering made of non-conducting rubber. (Dini 2006) This new invention could conduct electricity without the danger of starting fires or being shorted out by water.
Polymers have become common in replacing metals of choice in industries. Polymers can replace metal parts in consume appliances by providing heat resistance, strength and color stability along with design flexibility. Some of the properties of polymers are:
An Electroactive Polymer (EAP) is a polymer that undergoes a change in size or shape when subject to an electric field. These are most commonly used in actuators and sensors. Ionic EAPs (i-EAP) require much lower voltages for actuation to occur, 1-5V compared to >10V/µm, and they have low electromechanical coupling. This makes
One conducting polymer used in OLEDs is polyaniline. Emissive layer - This layer is made of organic plastic molecules (different ones from the conducting layer) that transport electrons from the cathode; this is where light is made. One polymer used in the emissive layer is polyfluorene. Cathode - The cathode injects electrons when current flows through the device.