Highly filled Nano-CdS/polystyrene nanocomposite film with self-organization behavior

Highly filled polystyrene (PS) composite film with a nano-CdS loading of 20wt.% can be obtained when a certain mercaptan is applied to the particles' surfaces. Because of a strong electron transfer interaction between the modified CdS nanoparticles and the aliphatic carbons in PS, self-organization of the nanoparticles is perceivable in the composites. As a result, the ultraviolet/visible absorption edge of the treated nano-CdS/ PS composites is blue-shifted in addition to the shift caused by quantum size effect. The fluorescence emission peak is accompanied by some fine structures and becomes redshifted and narrower. Unlike conventional nanocomposites that generally contain low concentrations of nanoparticles (less than 10wt.%), the present approach greatly improves the scope for cooperative behavior of the nanoparticles.