Structural Features of Poly(p-Xylylene)−Cadmium Sulfide Nanocomposite Films

Abstract

The structure and chemical composition of nanocomposite films based on poly(p-xylylene) with cadmium sulfide (CdS) as a filler were studied by X-ray diffraction and infrared (IR) spectroscopy. The films were synthesized by the codeposition of p-xylylene monomer and CdS vapors on quartz and silicon substrates, had a thickness of ~0.2 and ~1.5 µm and contained 5–90 vol % of CdS. The effect of the filler content and film thickness on polymer matrix and filler structure was demonstrated. The differences in the chemical compositions of the films with thicknesses of ~0.2 and ~1.5 µm were revealed, caused by their partial oxidation upon contact with air after synthesis. The possible influence of hydroxyl groups on the formation of CdS crystalline structures in films was discussed. A correlation was established between the structural transformations upon changes in the CdS content with the previously obtained dependences of the dark conductivity and photoconductivity for films with a thickness of ~0.2 μm.