Ultrasonic vibrations force a polymer to be a semiconductor
A team of researchers at Stanford University has used mechanical force to transform a molecule from one form to another—from a nonconductive state into a semiconductor. In their paper published in the journal Science, the group describes the process they developed and possible applications.
As the researchers note, using mechanical force to change a molecule from one form to another (by prying open their bonds) has been a popular research subject over the past decade, leading to a new field now known as mechanochemistry. In this new effort, the researchers used a physical force to "unzip" a nonconducting polymer, transforming it into a semiconductor.
In their work, the team studied chunks of cyclobutanes to learn more about their structure. In their natural state, they exist as a polyladderene molecule with the appearance of stairs leading from a low point to a high point, and walls holding them in place. The team thought that if they could pull the walls apart, effectively unzipping the staircase, they could transform it into a zig-zag-looking polymer known as a polyacetylene, which is a semiconductor.
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