As I’m sure you’ve heard a lot over the past few years, and in all likelihood will continue to hear, our planet’s resources are anything but unlimited. This also applies to technology and electronics. Copper, for example, is said to be scarce by 2045, like them Süddeutsche Zeitung reported years ago.
Scientists around the world are working on solutions to counteract this scarcity of resources as far as possible. This includes a team of researchers from the University of Chicago, who have now succeeded in producing a new material that should also serve this purpose. In the Study shows that director Jiaze Xie is surprised at his own discovery.
By the way, if you can’t get enough of special materials, then check out the following article about a find that is literally out of this world:
Not from Earth
Researchers discover the hardest material in the world
Plastic that conducts electricity
Similar to conventional plastic, the newly produced material is characterized by a disordered molecular structure. At the same time, however, it has more properties than one might otherwise expect from polymers (chemical mixture).
The structure at the atomic level determines whether a material is able to conduct electricity or not. Basically, a distinction is made between more (crystalline) and less (amorphous) ordered molecules. Conductive metals belong to the former, which is why copper, gold and aluminum are so commonly used in industry.
The American research team has now succeeded in creating a conductive material with an amorphous structure, which has so far been an exceptional case. Behind the complex name “nickel tetrathiafulvalene tetrathiolate” hides a nickel polymer surrounded by a chain of sulfur and carbon atoms as shown in the following picture.
With this structure, the material remains atomically stable at up to 140 degrees Celsius and high humidity.
The scientists are fascinated
Researcher Jiaze Xie, who started the project, marvels at the prototype’s ability to conduct electricity without using the usual metals used in industry. For him, the molecular structure and the fact that a non-metallic material can conduct electricity are more than surprising:
From a fundamental point of view, it shouldn’t be able to be a metal. There is no solid theory that could explain this.
At the moment, the researchers cannot promise that this material will have large-scale industrial application until they have tested it. They expect more accurate results in the coming months or years.
However, it is theoretically possible that copper alloys and the like can be dispensed with in the future. Since the material is still flexible at room temperature, various application models are being worked on.
A cheap alternative may soon be available for some of the world’s most important resources
Now, if you’re interested in learning more about potential alternate resource opportunities, check out Alex’s article linked above, which talks about Meteor Lab Metaerial.
How do you feel about such discoveries? What technology are you most looking forward to in the years to come
