SYNTHESIS AND CHARACTERISATION OF CdS NANOPARTICLES EMBEDDED IN A POLYMETHYLMETHACRILATE MATRIX

CdS nanopowder capped with sodium bis(2-ethylhexyl)sulfosuccinate was synthesized by using water-in-oil microemulsions. The CdSnanoparticles of about 5 nm obtained were embedded in polymethylmethacrylate matrix by a photocuring process. The transparent yellowsolid compound was characterized by optical absorption and emission spectroscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, andenergy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy. The properties of this compound were compared with those of the nanopowder dispersed in heptaneand in methylmethacrylate. The results obtained indicate that the nanoparticles are homogeneously dispersed in the matrix and do not changein size during the embedding process. Even if the surface slightly changes its luminescence properties, as a consequence of the different newchemical environment, the final product seems to be suitable for practical applications.