Abstract
ZnS nanocrystals were synthesized in situ in a polymer matrix through copolymerization of zinc-organic compounds and styrene followed by sulfurization. The structure of zinc-organic precursor was analyzed by FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. The phases and optical properties of the ZnS/polymer hybrid were investigated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and UV transmittance spectroscopy. The presence of ZnS nanocrystals was confirmed based upon the XRD pattern. In the UV transmittance spectroscopy, the blue-shift of the absorption edge was observed with an exiton peak. This result is explained in terms of the quantum size effects observed for small semiconductor particles. The band-gap energy of the ZnS particle/polymer hybrid ranged from 3.7 to 4.4 eV depending upon the processing conditions.
