Hideki Shirakawa

Nobel-winning chemist who turned plastic into conductive material

Hideki Shirakawa (1936–present) revolutionized materials science by accidentally creating conductive plastic in 1974. While attempting to synthesize polyacetylene at Tokyo Institute of Technology, a 1000x molar ratio error produced silvery film with metallic properties—the first organic conductor. This discovery enabled flexible electronics and organic LEDs.

Shirakawa's "mistake-driven research" philosophy challenged Japan's rigid academic culture. His 1977 Nature paper demonstrated plastic could conduct electricity better than copper when doped with iodine. The "Shirakawa Method" now underpins smart textiles and biodegradable circuits. At 87, he leads Japan's Green Molecular Electronics Project, developing plant-based semiconductors that decompose after use.