Preparation and optical properties of fluorescent hybrid complex of polycationic conjugated polymer and surface-functionalized ZnS nanoparticles

► ZnS-QS NPs with strong fluorescence emission have been successfully synthesized. ► ZnS-QS NPs were used to fabricate hybrid complex with conjugated polyelectrolytes. ► FRET and π-stacking were observed to be two competitive interactions between P2 and NPs.