Synthesis of nanocrystal-polymer transparent hybrids via polyurethane matrix grafted onto functionalized CdS nanocrystals

We reported the first synthesis of CdS nanocrystal-polymer transparent hybrids by using polyurethane (PU) grafted onto quantum dots (QDs) CdS nanocrystals. In a typical run, the appropriate amounts of cadmium chloride (CdCl2) and sodium sulfide (Na2S) in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) as the organic ligand are well dispersed in H2O/DMF solution without any aggregation. From a combination of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and a computing method of Brus's model according to UV-vis absorption spectra, the particle size of as-prepared hydroxyl-coated CdS nanocrystals is about 5 nm. Then, PU-CdS transparent nanocomposites hybrids were synthesized by a two-step reaction. The effect of the different ratios of ME/Cd2+ and H2O/DMF on the resulting particle size of CdS nanocrystals was investigated by UV-vis absorption measurements. FT-IR and TGA characterizations indicate the formation of robust bonding between CdS nanocrystals and the organic ligand. The fluorescence measurement shows that CdS-PU hybrids exhibit good optical properties.