Science
Nobel chemistry laureate Hideki Shirakawa dies at 90
The Japanese scientist shared the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry for the discovery and development of conductive polymers.
The short version
- Japanese chemist Hideki Shirakawa died on August 24 at the age of 90, according to the University of Tsukuba.
- Shirakawa shared the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry with Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid for demonstrating that plastics can conduct electricity.
- Their research enabled advancements in flexible electronics, including components for solar cells and mobile phone screens.
- The University of Tsukuba announced his death without disclosing a cause.
Key facts
- Hideki Shirakawa died on August 24 at the age of 90, as announced by the University of Tsukuba.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Shirakawa co-won the 2000 Nobel Prize in chemistry alongside American researchers Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid for discovering and developing conductive polymers.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- The trio's discovery proved plastics could conduct electricity, enabling lightweight and flexible conductive materials used in mobile phone screens and solar cells.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Japanese newspaper Yomiuri reported that Shirakawa died at a hospital in Yokohama.[ABC News · Associated Press]
- Shirakawa earned a doctoral degree in engineering from the Tokyo Institute of Technology in 1966 and joined the University of Tsukuba in 1979.[ABC News · Associated Press]
What remains uncertain
- The University of Tsukuba did not specify the cause of death.[ABC News · Associated Press]