Researchers create ‘self assembling’ plastic fibres
Researchers from CNRS and the Université de Strasbourg have created highly conducive plastic fibres that are only several nanometres thick and 'self assemble' when triggered by a flash of light.
CNRS claims that the electrical properties of the fibres are similar to metal with the benefits of being as light and flexible as plastic. It also believes the breakthrough could be a big step towards miniaturising components to the nanometric scale.
The team, led by Nicolas Giuseppone and Bernard Doudin, discovered that not only do the fibres self assemble solely between the electrodes, but they are also capable of transporting current densities above 2.106amperes per square centimetre (A.cm-2). Plus, their interface resistance was found to be 10,000 times below that of organic polymers.
The next challenge for the researchers is to demonstrate that the fibres can be used industrially within electronic devices such as flexible screens, transistors and printed nanocircuits.
