Plastics unite to make unexpected ‘metal’

Both TTF and TCNQ are electrical insulators. But Morpurgo’s team found that a 2-nanometre-thick strip along the interface between the two crystals conducts electricity as well as a metal.

So it’s “metal” in the sense that it’s plastic, but conducts very well along the interface. Apparently using “conductor” in the title would have broken some journalistic creed. Why go for accuracy when you can have imagery?

Neat result, though.