wiimiiiii MATERIALS
SCIENCE
POLYMERS LINE UP New method uses liquid crystals to impose order on conducting polymers RIGHT CELL PHONE AND says. For some properties, greater laptop displays that burden order is beneficial; for others, less neither power supplies nor order is needed, he notes. "But pocketbooks may soon become control is the key." available. At Northwestern UniUsing optical microscopy versity, researchers have come up methods, the team showed that with a simple procedure for the liquid-crystal template con preparing films of conducting trols the polymer's structure so polymers with a high degree of profoundly that, even after the CRYSTAL-LIKE Ordered films of conducting order— a property that boosts the template is washed away, the polymers, when examined with optical microscopy performance of the materials product looks just like a liquid methods, look just like the liquid-crystal templates in when used in electronic applica- crystal in terms of its domain which they were grown. tions [Angew. Chem. Int. Éd., 42,structure and birefringence, an 778(2003)}. optical property characteristic of team reports. Using standard methods, the group incorporat Low cost, mechanical flexi- liquid-crystalline materials. To gauge the electronic prop ed the new films into LEDs that bility, and ease of processing make electricity-conducting erties of templated specimens, emit intense blue light. plastics ideal materials for elec- the Northwestern University sci Hulvat explains that the en tronic devices. But progress with entists compared current flow hanced current flow corre organic electronics has come through ordered PEDOT films sponds to an increase in the lu slowly because plastics tend to with theflowthrough disordered minosity of LEDs made from be mediocre conductors. Al- PEDOT films, including com the ordered materials. With though scientists recognize that mercially available materials. bright and efficient LEDs, he the high degree of disorder typ- Films prepared via the new says, people will be able to see ical of polymers plays a key role method deliver significantly their cell-phone displays in the in their lackluster performance, more current at a given voltage midday sun without draining bringing order to the materials than other PEDOT films, the their batteries.—MITCH JACOBY has remained challenging. Now, graduate studentJames BUSINESS F. Hulvat and Samuel I. Stupp, professor of materials science, chemistry, and medicine, have shown that ordered films of t's beginning to look like old home week at an independent director on Dow's board. conducting polymers can be Dow Chemical. After naming Chairman At the same time, Dow announced that prepared via an aqueous lowWilliam S. Stavropoulos to replace ousted Harold T. Shapiro, president emeritus and temperature technique using president and CEO Michael D. Parker, the professor of economics and public affairs at liquid crystals as templates to company has brought back long Princeton University, has been direct the orientation of the time Dow executive Keith R. unanimously elected by the board's growing molecules. The team McKennon (pictured) as a director independent directors to the newly demonstrated the new method to replace Parker on the board. created position of presiding direc by electropolymerizing 3,4-ethParker resigned his directorship tor. Shapiro, a Dow board member yldioxythiophene in a liquidand left the company last week. since 1985, was president of crystal medium composed of Most recently, McKennon, 69, Princeton University from 1988 to surfactant molecules. The polyhad been vice chairman of Scottish 2000. meric product, PEDOT, is comPower, following its acquisition of Dow's new board lineup meets ' monly used to conduct positive PacificCorp, where he had been many of the recommendationscharge in the hole-injection laychairman and CEO. McKennon joined Dow as a including presiding director—for corporate er in organic light-emitting chemist in 1955, retiring as executive vice governance made earlier this year by the diodes (LEDs). president in 1992 and as chairman and CEO Conference Board's Commission on Public of Dow Corning in 1994. He will serve as Trust & Private Enterprise.—WILLIAM ST0RCK "ΉΜ always want to be able to control order in a material," Stupp
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McKennon Is Back On Board at Dow
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FEBRUARY
17. 2003
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