Fabrication of polymer/ZnS nanoparticle composites by matrix-mediated synthesis

Abstract

Zinc sulfide nanoparticles are obtained as primary particles in a polymer matrix by a matrix-mediated synthesis. Two types of matrix polymer are synthesized via the copolymerization of hydrophobic, cation-exchange, and cross-linking monomers. The ZnS nanoparticles are affected by the composition of the matrix polymer, and especially by its hydrophobicity. In a low-hydrophobicity copolymer matrix, aggregates of ZnS nanoparticles are observed in the matrix using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). In a high-hydrophobicity cation-exchange copolymer matrix, primary particles of ZnS with 2-5 nm diameters are observed in the matrix by TEM. However, the ZnS pattern is not distinguishable in XRD measurements because the particle sizes are too small to diffract X-rays.

Synthesis and photoluminescence study of zinc sulfide–poly(arylene ether ketone) nanocomposite materials

“…Since then, many kinds of polymers have been used as ligands to synthesize the nanocrystals and prepare nanohybrid materials for their very good processability, such as sulfhydryl group-containing polymers, amphiphilic block copolymers, hyperbranched polymers, conducting polymers, and so on. [11][12][13][14][15][16] Polymeric materials come as an interesting possibility of synthesizing semiconductor nanocrystals, as they share some of the major requirements. The polymeric materials not only enhance the stability of nanocrystals, control their size range, improve their surface structure 17,18 but also facilitate optical measurements.…”