1. PICs, an example: polyaniline and improved processing properties

Contrary to the common belief that plastics are insulating materials, some actually have electronically conductive properties. This class of materials, known as intrinsically conductive polymers (ICPs), came into its own following the Nobel Prize awarded to A.J. Heeger, A.G. MacDiarmid and H. Shirakawa in 2000 for their discovery of conductive plastic or "synthetic metal". However, the development of these materials has been limited by their infusibility and insolubility in common solvents. A great deal of research is still being carried out into the development and/or optimization of new processes for...