Synthesis, Characterization, and Nonlinear Optical Properties of Hybridized CdS−Polystyrene Nanocomposites

• Published in: Chemistry of materials 2002-10, Vol.14 (10), p.4473-4479
• Main Authors: Du, H, Xu, G. Q, Chin, W. S, Huang, L, Ji, W
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Composites; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Fundamental areas of phenomenology (including applications); Optical materials; Optics; Physics; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polymers and organics; Technology of polymers
• ISSN: 0897-4756; 1520-5002
• DOI: 10.1021/cm010622z

Hybrid composites of CdS nanoparticles embedded in sulfonated polystyrene (PS) matrixes have been prepared and characterized. The −SO3 - groups acted as the coordination sites for cadmium ion aggregations and nanosized CdS particles were successfully grown in situ at these sites with the release of S2- ions from thioacetamide. The density and size of the nanoparticles were found to be a function of the sulfonate content of PS and the concentration of Cd2+ feed ions used. Ionic clusterings within the polymer matrix occurred at a sulfonate content of 9.9 mol % and has provided a confined medium for particle growth in uniform size. The optical properties of the prepared CdS−PS hybrid composites were characterized by linear absorption and fluorescence spectra. Z-scan measurement was also employed to investigate the nonlinear optical properties at a wavelength of 532 nm. The results showed that the nonlinear refractive index of the composite varies with the input irradiance, thus indicating not just third-order but possible higher order nonlinearity.