Conducting polymers (intro)
Polymer Chemistry (Applied) · Chemistry
Study notes
How did iodine turn insulating polyacetylene into a conductor? Step 1: Polyacetylene: conjugated (CH)ₙ — π electrons delocalized but no carriers. Step 2: I₂ doping oxidizes chains — removes electrons, creates positive solitons. Step 3: Charges move along conjugated backbone → conductivity jumps 10⁷×! Step 4: Doping creates carriers — Shirakawa's Nobel accident (1977)!