A heterostructure composed of conjugated polymer and copper sulfide nanoparticles

A heterostructure formed by a conjugated polymer and semiconducting nanoparticles was produced. The conjugated polymer was synthesized by oxidative copolymerization of 3-thiopheneacetic acid and 3-hexylthiophene, thus obtaining an amphiphilic polythiophene that allows the formation of a stable polymer layer at the air-water interface. Different numbers of monolayers were deposited on solid substrates. CuS nanoparticles were grown directly in the polymeric matrix using the carboxylic groups as nucleation centers. The reactions were monitored by quartz crystal microbalance, Brewster angle, and fluorescence microscopy. The heterostructure showed increased conductivity as compared to the pristine polymer.