Conductive quantum dot-encapsulated electrospun nanofibers from polystyrene and polystyrene-co-maleic anhydride copolymer blend as gas sensors

• Published in: Reactive & functional polymers Vol. 71; no. 2; pp. 104 - 108
• Main Authors: Tatavarty, Rameshwar, Hwang, Ee Taek, Park, Jee-Woong, Kwak, Jun-Hyuk, Lee, Jeong-O, Gu, Man Bock
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier B.V 01.02.2011; Elsevier
• Subjects: Anhydrides; Applied sciences; Cadmium selenides; Composites; Conductivity; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Electrospinning; Electrospun nanofibers; Exact sciences and technology; Forms of application and semi-finished materials; Gas sensor; Nanofibers; Polymer industry, paints, wood; Polystyrene resins; Quantum dots; Resistivity; Scanning electron microscopy; Technology of polymers; Conductivity; Gas sensor; Electrospun nanofibers; Quantum dots; Quantum dot; Polymer blends; Electrical properties; Voltage current curve; Electrospinning; Nanofiber; Volatile organic compound; Experimental study; Zinc sulfide; Medium effect; Morphology; Maleic anhydride copolymer; Styrene polymer; Nanocomposite; Current time characteristic; Manufacturing; Cadmium Selenides; Gas detector; Styrene copolymer
• ISSN: 1381-5148
• DOI: 10.1016/j.reactfunctpolym.2010.11.029

Electrospinning was employed to obtain uniformly distributed Cadmium Selenide (CdSe)/Zinc Sulfide (ZnS) core shell quantum dot (QD) encapsulated nanofibers in polymeric mixture of 4:1 ratio of polystyrene (PS) and polystyrene-co-maleic anhydride (PSMA). Fluorescence and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) measurements were used to evaluate the uniform size distribution and uniformity of PS–PSMA nanofibers with high aspect ratios. The introduction of QDs only into the PS–PSMA nanofibers induced electrical conductivity. They also showed a two to three fold increase in electrical conductivity in the presence of volatile organic compounds. The obtained quantum-dot nanofibers (Qd-NFs) were 600–650 nm thick, photostable for more than six months, and applicable for electrical conductance or gas-based sensing applications.