From batteries to biosensors: Conductive polymers make the jump to commercial applications

Hina Goyal, Information Scientist, ACSI India, shares how conductive polymers - a revolutionary class of organic materials that combine the electrical properties of metals and semiconductors with the flexibility of conventional polymers - are transforming research and commercial applications in biomedicine and beyond

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Conductive polymers represent a revolutionary class of organic materials that have transformed our understanding of polymeric systems. These materials combine the electrical properties of metals and semiconductors with the mechanical flexibility and processing advantages of conventional polymers. Prior to the 1970s, polymers were universally considered to be electrical insulators. However, the pioneering work of Hideki Shirakawa, Alan MacDiarmid, and Alan Heeger revealed that polyacetylene doped with bromine demonstrated conductivity one million times higher than its pristine form. This earned them the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2000 and marked the beginning of the conductive polymer era.

Today, this technology is used in commercial applications with important advances happening in biomedicine. We analysed the CAS Content CollectionTM, the largest human-curated repository of scientific information, and found publications relating to conductive polymers have increased steadily in the last 30 years (see Figure 1).

The consistent dominance of journal articles throughout the timeline demonstrates sustained fundamental research interest, while the robust patent activity reflects significant industry investment and commercial viability. Noteworthy is the balanced ecosystem between academic research and commercial development, with journal articles comprising 59 per cent and patent families representing a substantial 41 per cent of total publications. This indicates an exceptional translation from laboratory discoveries to market-ready applications.

Let's take a closer look at how innovations in the formulation and processing of these materials are changing biomedicine and beyond:

Conductive polymers in energy storage systems and more