@article { ISI:000241197300015, title = {Response characteristics of conducting polypyrrole bi-layer actuators: role of backing layer polymer}, journal = {Sensors and Actuators B-Chemical}, volume = {119}, number = {1}, year = {2006}, month = {NOV}, pages = {94-98}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA}, type = {Article}, address = {PO BOX 564, 1001 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND}, abstract = {

The response of a bi-layer conducting polymer-based actuator has been studied with respect to various parameters such as backing layer thickness, backing layer modulus, applied voltage, etc. The bending angles for the bi-layer actuators made by depositing, conducting polypyrrole (PPy) films on backing layers using LDPE/LLDPE, SBS, Hytrel, PP, PET materials have been compared. The response of the bi-layer actuators indicates that there is optimum for the backing layer thickness as well as its material modulus together with the thickness of the conducting polymer at which the maximum bending is observed. Other geometrical parameters such as a length to width ratio also influence the response of these actuators and have to be chosen properly for the best actuator performance. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {actuator, bi-layer, conducting polymer, polypyrrole, response}, issn = {0925-4005}, doi = {10.1016/j.snb.2005.11.061}, author = {Radhakrishnan, S. and Kar, Swarnendu B.} } @article { ISI:000237003000008, title = {Role of dopant ions in electrocatalytic oxidation of methanol using conducting polypyrrole electrodes}, journal = {Journal of Power Sources}, volume = {155}, number = {2}, year = {2006}, month = {APR}, pages = {157-160}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV}, type = {Article}, address = {PO BOX 211, 1000 AE AMSTERDAM, NETHERLANDS}, abstract = {

Conducting polypyrrole electrodes obtained by electro-polymerization of pyrrole on vacuum metallized glass substrates are modified by doping with a range of metal halides as dopant ions having different electronegativity. Electro-oxidation of methanol using these electrodes is studied by means of cyclic voltammetry in 0.1 M HCiO(4) as supporting electrolyte. It is found that the electronegativity of the dopant ion plays a very important role in the electrocatalytic activity. Polypyrrole doped with zirconium chloride gives the highest anodic current of 10 mA cm(-2) at the oxidation potential of methanol. The results are explained on the basis of the charge-transfer efficiency at the electrode I electrolyte interface, which is associated with the acceptor state created by the dopant in the semi-conducting polymer. (c) 2005 Published by Elsevier B.V.

}, keywords = {conducting polymers, electrocatalysis, fuel cells, Methanol oxidation, polypyrrole}, issn = {0378-7753}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpowsour.2005.03.234}, author = {Radhakrishnan, S. and Adhikari, Arindam} } @article { ISI:000250278300038, title = {Role of ionic diffusion in polymer gel mediated growth (PMG) technique for the synthesis of nanoparticulate fillers}, journal = {Materials Chemistry and Physics}, volume = {105}, number = {2-3}, year = {2007}, month = {OCT}, pages = {348-353}, publisher = {ELSEVIER SCIENCE SA}, type = {Article}, address = {PO BOX 564, 1001 LAUSANNE, SWITZERLAND}, abstract = {

Polymer mediated growth (PMG), which forms an important method for synthesis of nanoparticles, has one of the ions bound by polymer matrix while the other is allowed to diffuse and react to form desired compound. The exact role of ionic diffusion in the formation of nanoparticles has been investigated by taking specific case studies. Typically calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate and calcium sulfate have been formed in nano-size by PMG route using polyacrylamide gel. The extent of cross-linking of the polymer matrix in the formation of gel, affects the diffusivity of ions into polymer matrix and the size of particles formed. The rates of diffusion for different extents of cross-linking of polymer are estimated during the synthesis of nanoparticles using Fick{\textquoteright}s law. The inter-correlation between the particle size formation and the diffusion length has been clearly brought out in these studies. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

}, keywords = {ionic diffusion, nanoparticulate fillers, polymeric gels}, issn = {0254-0584}, doi = {10.1016/j.matchemphys.2007.04.071}, author = {Sonawane, Pradip S. and Biradar, Santoshkumar S. and Radhakrishnan, S. and Kulkarni, B. D.} }