Synthesis of polycarbonate-co-poly(p-ethylphenol) and CdS nanocomposites

The enzyme-catalyzed synthesis of poly(p-ethylphenol) (PEP) was modified by copolymerization with polycarbonates through triphosgene at low temperatur e to form polycarbonate-co-poly(p-ethylphenol) (PC-co-PEP). FTIR, NMR, GPC, and thermal analysis verified the formation of PC-co-PEP. The copolymers h ave an optical absorption in the UV range. CdS semiconductor nanocrystallit es were synthesized in reversed micelles with subsequent in situ enzymatic copolymerization of p-ethylphenol and 4-hydroxythiophenol in the same mediu m. TEM and ATR-FTIR showed that the polymer precipitated in spherical morph ologies, incorporating CdS nanocrystals into the polymer matrix, with surfa ce hydroxyl groups. The polymer/CdS core was then dispersed into polycarbon ate. The polymer/CdS nanocomposites showed higher optical aborbance in the UV-vis range when compared to the polymer matrix without CdS. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 72: 1851-1868, 1999.