Preparation, characterization and optical properties of PVA/CdS nanocomposite thin films obtained by electrospinning method

PVA/CdS nanocomposite thin films were prepared via electrospinning method at different ratio. Firstly, CdS nanoparticles were synthesized using cadmium nitrate (Cd (NO3)2) and sodium sulphide (Na2S) in a simple and economical way. Then, PVA/CDS nanocomposite were prepared at different CdS nanoparticles ratio (20, 30, 40 and 50) using electrospinning method. The morphology and structure of nanocomposites were characterized by X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The results indicated the formation of CdS nanoparticles with crystalline phase in the PVA matrix and proved that nanoparticles were successfully coated by polyvinyl alcohol molecules. Furthermore, the optical properties were analyzed by diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). From the shift in optical band gap, particle sizes were calculated using effective mass approximation (EMA) method which were in agreement with the results obtained from XRD observation for 50:50 and 80:20 samples. The film prepared at 50:50 ratio was found to be suitable for application in solar cells as a window layer due to the crystalline phase, favorable band gap and higher optical transmittance