SRINIVASAN, Madapusi P

Associate Professor

PhD (Chem. Eng.) UC Davis, 1989
MSc (Chem. Eng.) UC Davis, 1985
BTech (Chem. Eng.) Madras, 1983

Contact information
Blk E5, 4 Engineering Drive 4, #02-24, Singapore 117576
Tel: (65) 6516 2171   Fax: (65) 6779 1936
Email: chesmp@nus.edu.sg

Research Group

RESEARCH

Organised Molecular Assemblies

Ordered molecular assemblies in the form of thin films are promising materials for applications in optics, electronics, information processing/storage and biology. The projects investigate preparation, characteristics and performance of assemblies of functional species in robust polymeric hosts. Functional moieties investigated are (a) organic photochromic molecules, (b) polymerisable heterocyclic compounds and (c) biologically active materials such as proteins. Thin films are prepared by organised molecular assembly techniques such as Langmuir-Blodgett and self-assembly. Polarised spectroscopy and surface analytical techniques are used to investigate the effect of processing parameters, guest-host relationship and molecular orientation on functional properties.

Polymer Composites Containing Polyimides

This research is focused on incorporating robust mechanical and thermal characteristics as well as functional properties in polymeric systems. Materials are endowed with advantageous properties by incorporating network structures and functional moieties via blending and copolymerisation. Additionally, utilisation of supercritical fluid processing techniques provides an avenue for developing characteristics such as porosity.

Supercritical Fluid Processing

Supercritical fluids are of interest as environmentally benign solvents for extraction and desorption. The use of carbon dioxide as a replacement for conventional solvents is investigated in adsorbent regeneration, impregnating/extracting solutes and polymer processing. Current activities comprise polymer curing in a supercritical medium and polymer metallisation using organometallic impregnating agents.

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

Z. Hu and M. P. Srinivasan, "Mesoporous High-Surface-Area Activated Carbon", Microporous and Mesoporous Materials, 43, 267 (2001).

Z. Hu, M. P. Srinivasan and Y. M. Ni, "Preparation of Mesoporous High-Surface-Area Activated Carbon", Advanced Materials, 12, 62 (2000).

F. Jing, R. A. Kareem and M. P. Srinivasan, "Composite LB Films of Copper Octabutoxy Phthalocyanine and Polyimide", Materials Science and Engineering, C8, 103 (1999).

J. Wang and M. P. Srinivasan, "Conductive Composite Films of Polyimide and Poly-dodecyl Thiophene", Synthetic Metals, 105, 1 (1999).

J. Wang, M. P. Srinivasan and S. C. Ng, "Polyimide Films from Linear and Network Precursors", Journal of Materials Chemistry, 9, 655 (1999).