Projects

Novel Nanocomposites with Unusually High Conductivity for Microwave Absorption Development of Carbon-Intrinsically Conducting Polymer (C-ICP) and C-ICP Metal Nanocomposites

Dispersion of nanocarbon forms and metal nanoparticles in a conducting polymer matrix facilitates coating of such materials. Different nanocarbon materials such as single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), double walled carbon nanotube (DWCNT), multi walled carbon nanotube (MWCNT), and graphene are being synthesized using Radio Frequency (RF) Catalytic Chemical Vapor Deposition (CCVD). Inherently conducting polyaniline is being used as the conducting matrix because of its ease of synthesis, low-cost monomer, tunable properties, and stability.Various nanocarbon-polyaniline composites have been developed and optimized for high electrical conductivity. Microwave absorption properties of such highly conducting dispersions are being studied.

Communicated to journals:

• S. Ramakrishnan, M. Dhakshinamoorthy, Jelmy E. Johny, R. Vasanthakumari, and NikhilK. Kothurkar, “Synthesis and Characterisation of Graphene Oxide-Polyimide Nanofiber Composite”, communicated to Journal of Experimental Nanoscience, under review
• Jelmy E. Johny, S. Ramakrishnan, Murali Rangarajan, and Nikhil K. Kothurkar, “Effect of Different Carbon Fillers and Dopant Acids on the Electrical Properties of Polyaniline Nanocomposites”, Bulletin of Materials Science
• R. Devi, S. Ramakrishnan, Nikhil K. Kothurkar, and R. Yamuna, “Azo Functionalized Graphene Oxide: Synthesis, Characterization, and Photoluminescence Property”, communicated to Journal of Experimental Nanoscience, under review.