Teresa Bleve-Zacheo

Electrosynthesis and characterisation of nanostructured palladium–polypyrrole composites

Abstract Palladium–polypyrrole composite thin films have been synthesised using three different bottom-up procedures all comprising the electrochemical synthesis of palladium nanoparticles that are subsequently potentiostatically deposited or embedded into an electrochemically produced polypyrrole thin film. Transmission electron micrographs of the resulting composites show that the metallic inclusions have a mean diameter of about 5 nm with a homogeneous size distribution. Experimental evidence is also provided that both the nanoparticles and the composite thin films are electroactive. Preliminary results on the extendibility of this approach to the electrosynthesis of other metal–polypyrrole materials (namely Ag–PPy composites) are also presented.

Antifungal activity of polymer-based copper nanocomposite coatings

Eukaryotes, such as fungi, can be harmful pathogen agents, and the control of their bioactivity is critical as humans are eukaryote organisms, too. Here, copper∕polymer nanocomposites are proposed as antifungal spinnable coatings with controlled copper-releasing properties. The tests of the bioactivity show that fungal growth is inhibited on the nanocomposite-coated plates, and the antifungal activity can be modulated by controlling the Cu nanoparticle loading.

Nanostructured palladium–polypyrrole composites electrosynthesised from organic solvents

Abstract Palladium–polypyrrole nanostructured composite films can be easily synthesised using a two-step procedure comprising the electrochemical synthesis of palladium nanoparticles (Pd-NPs) that are subsequently potentiostatically deposited onto a polypyrrole thin film electrosynthesised from an acetonitrile solution. The composite thin films have good conductivity and their transmission electron micrographs show that the metallic inclusions have a mean diameter of about 5 nm with a homogeneous size distribution. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis reveals the presence of two surface oxidation states for the as-synthesised Pd-NPs as well as for those deposited on the films. On the basis of experimental findings, a structural model for the Pd-NPs is proposed.

Organic thin film transistors: from active materials to novel applications

Abstract In this paper, a birds eye view of most of the organic materials employed as n-channel and p-channel transistor active layers is given along with the relevant device performances; organic thin film transistors (OTFT) operation regimes are discussed and an interesting perspective application of OTFT as multi-parameter gas sensor is proposed.