Researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden have developed a cost-effective, eco-friendly method to produce electrically conductive plastics at scale, paving the way for next-generation wearable electronics and medical devices. The glittering, gold-like material, known as a conjugated polymer, is biocompatible and flexible, making it ideal for sensors, drug-delivery patches and health-monitoring implants. Unlike metals, it doesn’t corrode in humid environments and avoids the need for rare earth elements. The breakthrough came after an accidental lab discovery showed the material could be produced at room temperature without toxic chemicals. The team hopes the advance, published in Science Advances, will bring conductive plastics from niche lab experiments to widespread industrial applications in biotechnology, energy storage and smart textiles.

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