Core–shell PEDOT:PSS—PVP nanofibers containing PbS nanoparticles through coaxial electrospinning

• A coaxial electrospinning process to synthesize core–shell PEDOT:PSS—PVP nanofibers is described.
• Well dispersed PbS nanoparticles were introduced in the PEDOT:PSS core.
• The composite material exhibits a clear photoresponse and a higher conductivity than the one observed in the case for the material without the PbS nanoparticles.

Coaxial electrospinning was used to fabricate core–shell nanofibers of PEDOT:PSS, located in the core, with PbS nanoparticles homogeneously distributed within it, and a PVP shell. This morphology was confirmed by HAADF-STEM results, while the composition and nature of the different phases was corroborated by EDXS and FTIR studies. Moreover, optoelectronic properties of the composite material based on the synthesized core–shell nanofibres were studied, showing an increment in the conductivity of the material by the addition of the PbS nanoparticles and also the appearance of photoresponse, effect not observed in either of the polymeric materials, but displayed by the PbS nanoparticles.

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