Polymer-inorganic nanocomposites prepared by hydrothermal method: Preparation and characterization of PVA-transition-metal sulfides

Nanocomposites of poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) with iron, cobalt, or nickel su lfides were successfully prepared using a hydrothermal process by an in sit u reaction with CS2 at 140 degreesC for 8 h. XRD results showed that pure p hases of FeS2, CoS2, and NiS were obtained in the as-prepared nanocomposite s. They also showed that the crystallinity of PVA was largely decreased aft er incorporation of the nano-sized sulfides. This was also confirmed by IR spectroscopy. SEM photographs showed that the sulfide particles were homoge neously dispersed in the PVA matrix. UV-visible spectroscopy was also used to characterize the as-prepared nanocomposites, (C) 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.