Cadmium sulfide photoluminescence in poly(methyl methacrylate)-matrix composites

Poly(methyl methacrylate)-matrix composites containing cadmium, lead, and zinc sulfides and also mixed (cadmium lead and cadmium zinc) sulfides were prepared by reacting metal salts with thioacetamide. The transmission of the composites in the range λ > 500 nm is 92% at absorbing layer thicknesses of ≤5 mm. The photoluminescence (PL) of the composites in the wavelength range 500–820 nm is due to the cadmium sulfide, and that in the wavelength range 300–550 nm arises from the zinc sulfide. It results from radiative recombination at levels of extrinsic structural defects in CdS and ZnS, respectively. The PL excitation spectra contain excitonic absorption bands of cadmium sulfide and zinc sulfide quantum dots. The PL of the cadmium sulfide in the composites is influenced by the presence of lead(II) and zinc(II) ions and the complexation of cations on the surface of the particles.