Polyacetylene Conductive Polymer

Chemistry, Technology
[caption id="attachment_12124" align="alignleft" width="440"] Acetylene Welding - NASA[/caption] Metals are electrically conductive, yes. But is there such a thing as a polyacetylene conductive polymer? In a sense, a plastic that is not electrically insulative, but electrically conductive, and a top-notch conductor at that? Ethyne (AKA acetylene) polymerizes to polyethyne (polyacetylene) in the presence of copper catalysts. When prepared in an alternate way, polyacetylene (CH)2 exhibits moderate electric conductivity. Oxidation with iodine increases conductivity of the polymer by several powers of ten. In fact, it approaches the specific electrical resistance of silver. In 2000, Shirakawa, Heeger and McDiarmid received the Nobel Price for this discovery. How is the reaction written? And what is so special about polyacetylene conductive polymer? General Schematic Preparation of Polyacetylene The simple saturated molecule ethane is written…
Read More

Why Electroless Plating and Electroplating?

Chemistry
[caption id="attachment_6370" align="alignright" width="440"] Nickel Plating[/caption] Many items need require a coating of metal. Such can be applied in a couple of ways. One way is electroless plating. Another way is electroplating. Chrome handles on car doors are plastic with a veneer of metal. When you look in a mirror, you see your reflection in a sheet of glass with a metal film on the back. If you wear gold eyeglasses, there is a super thin coat of gold over base metal. Most plating uses a water solution containing metal salts. If an electric source is used to deposit the plate, the process is electroplating. If no electric source is used, it is auto-catalytic or electroless plating. How do these work? We will discuss the basics, beginning with electroplating. Electroplating…
Read More