Researchers make new conductive polymer

Researchers at TDA Research (Wheat Ridge, CO) claim they have developed a new type of plastic that conducts electricity and is easier to manufacture. Oligotron polymers are constructed from tiny sections of material, each containing a conducting center and non-conducting end pieces. The end pieces allow the plastic to dissolve in solvents and bond with other specific molecules.
Oligotron polymers contain the conducting polymer, polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT). Unlike earlier versions of molecules made with PEDOT, Oligotron polymers are soluble in non-corrosive chemicals, allowing properties and function to be tailored by attachment of various end-chain molecules. Researchers predict the molecules may eventually be used in a host of applications, including solar cells, flexible television displays and smart cards.