Nobel Prize Winner Hideki Shirakawa, Pioneer of Conductive Plastics, Dies at 89

Hideki Shirakawa, the Japanese chemist who won the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for developing plastics that can conduct electricity, has died, according to a report by Japanese newspaper 朝日新聞. He was 89 years old. The news was published on Thursday, September 3, 2026.

Shirakawa’s breakthrough came through his work on polyacetylene, a polymer that, when chemically treated, could carry an electrical current—a property previously thought impossible for plastics. This discovery overturned a long-held assumption in materials science that plastics were strictly insulators. For this achievement, he shared the Nobel Prize with Alan Heeger and Alan MacDiarmid, who collaborated on the research.

The practical impact of conductive plastics has been significant. As 日本経済新聞 notes, the technology has been applied in the manufacturing of smartphone displays, among other electronic components. The material’s flexibility and lightweight nature have made it valuable in modern devices that require both durability and electrical function.

Beyond his scientific legacy, Shirakawa was remembered for his approachable personality. 読売新聞 recounted a moment when he was asked about his first love, to which he replied with a laugh that he was “always in love,” drawing smiles from his audience. Colleagues and students often described him as warm and humorous, traits that complemented his rigorous research style.

hideki shirakawa

His death marks the passing of one of Japan’s most celebrated chemists, whose work bridged fundamental chemistry and real-world electronics. The full details of his final days have not been disclosed by the reporting outlets.

As tributes continue, observers will likely reflect on how his discovery reshaped both academic chemistry and the consumer electronics industry.