"Surprising Discovery Unveiled in the Development of Polymer-Based Semiconductors"

Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have discovered unexpected results while studying the development of polymer-based semiconductors that can harness the power of chirality. Chirality, a non-superimposable mirror image, is a natural strategy used to build complexity in structures. The team investigated modifications to a non-chiral polymer and found that slight tweaks caused major changes in the material's phases. The findings highlight the need to consider complex mesophase structures to uncover unknown properties that can lead to advancements in optical, electronic, and mechanical properties. Potential applications include solar cells, quantum computing, and 3D imaging techniques.