Formation of ZnS nanorods entrapped in polyacrylic acid (PAA) film

A simplistic approach for synthesis of zinc sulphide (ZnS) nanorods is reported. The synthesis of ZnS nanoparticles involved mixing of zinc acetate, sodium sulphide and acrylic acid in appropriate ratio at proper conditions, which formed the core. These nanoparticles were trapped in PAA by in-situ polymerization of acrylic acid and carefully casted into the film which resulted into entrapped nanorods in the polymer matrix. The nanoparticles as well as nanorods entrapped in PAA were characterized using high resolution scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for morphological investigations; energy dispersive X-ray analysis (EDAX) for composition and its crystalinity was checked using X-ray diffraction (XRD). The length of nanorods was in the range of 2–4 μm and thickness between 50–200 nm.