Nobel Winner Hideki Shirakawa Dies At 90
Japanese scientist and co-winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry passes away, leaving behind a legacy of groundbreaking work on conductive polymers
Hideki Shirakawa, a renowned Japanese scientist and co-winner of the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry, has died at the age of 90. According to the University of Tsukuba, Shirakawa passed away on August 24.
Shirakawa was recognized for his pioneering work on conductive polymers, a discovery that led to the development of various modern technologies, including inexpensive conductive materials used in solar cells and mobile phone screens. His research, conducted in collaboration with American scientists Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid at the University of Pennsylvania, demonstrated that plastic could conduct electricity like metal, paving the way for innovative applications in electronics.
Born in Tokyo in 1936, Shirakawa earned a doctoral degree in engineering at the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1966. He later worked as a researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, where he collaborated with Heeger and MacDiarmid on the groundbreaking project. Shirakawa's work had a significant impact on the development of modern technologies, enabling the creation of lighter, more flexible, and cost-effective materials.
## Why it matters Shirakawa's discovery of conductive polymers has had a profound impact on the development of modern technologies. The inexpensive conductive materials that resulted from his research are now used in a wide range of applications, from solar cells to mobile phone screens. His work has enabled the creation of lighter, more flexible, and cost-effective materials, transforming the electronics industry and paving the way for future innovations.
Shirakawa died at a hospital in Yokohama, west of Tokyo, according to Japan's largest newspaper, the Yomiuri. The University of Tsukuba, where Shirakawa taught and researched after joining in 1979, reported his death but did not specify a cause.
The legacy of Hideki Shirakawa's work will continue to shape the development of modern technologies, inspiring future generations of scientists and researchers to explore the possibilities of conductive polymers and their applications.
