Dependence of structural, vibrational spectroscopy and optical properties on the particle sizes of CdS/polyaniline core/shell nanocomposites

Cadmium sulfide/polyaniline (CdS/PANI) nanocomposites were prepared by polymerization of aniline on the CdS nanoparticles using facile synthetic steps. Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM) confirmed that CdS/PANI nanocomposites were synthesized in the form of core/shell structure. According to the patterns of X-ray diffraction (XRD), the particle sizes of the cored CdS were changed with the change of CdCl2 to Na2S molar ratio. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra revealed that, CdCl2 to Na2S was used to control the polymerization process of aniline. The oxidation degree of PANI was increased with increasing CdCl2 to Na2S. The UV–visible spectra of CdS/PANI core/shell nanocomposite was contained the absorption of the PANI shell as well as the CdS nanoparticles core at certain ratios of CdCl2 and Na2S.

► CdS/PANI nanocomposites were prepared with different size using synthetic steps.
► The particle sizes of CdS depend on the molar ratios of CdCl2 to Na2S.
► The small CdS nanoparticle used as a photocatalysis to form the PANI shell.
► The PANI shell confirmed from the results of TEM, X-ray, IR and UV–VIS spectroscopy.