Photoluminescence Enhancement of CdS Nanocrystals Fabricated on Dithiocarbamate Functionalized PET Substrates

Cadmium sulfide (CdS) nanocrystals (NCs) were self-assembled and in-situ immobilized on the dithiocarbamate (DTCs)-functionalized polyethylene glycol terephthalate (PET) substrates between the organic (carbon disulfide diffused in n-hexane) –aqueous (ethylenediamine and Cd2+ dissolved in water) interface at room temperature. Powder X-ray diffraction measurement revealed the hexagonal structure of CdS nanocrystals. Morphological studies performed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) showed the island-like structure of CdS nanocrystals on PET substrates, as well as energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) confirmed the stoichiometries of CdS nanocrystals. The optical properties of DTCs modified CdS nanocrystals were thoroughly investigated by ultraviolet-visible absorption spectroscopy (UV-vis) and fluorescence spectroscopy. The as-prepared DTCs present intrinsic hydrophobicity and strong affinity for CdS nanocrystals.