Direct synthesis of PbS nanocrystals capped with 4-fluorothiophenol in semiconducting polymer

We report on a simple chemical route to directly synthesize PbS nanocrystals capped with 4-fluorothiophenol in poly[2-methoxy-5-(3′,7′-dimethyloctyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] semiconducting polymer. An intermediate composite, which has been characterized by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, has been synthesized to be used as nanocrystal precursor that contains both the metal and capping agent. Transmission electron microscopy images show that good quality nanoparticles with a mean size of ≈≈5 nm are obtained with this method. Optical absorption measurements show that the absorption band of the polymer is extended as the PbS nanoparticles are included. Photoluminescence of the polymer becomes partially quenched as the concentration of the nanoparticles is increased in the composite.