Preparation and characterization of Ag(2)S nanoparticles embedded in polymer fibre matrices by electrospinning

Polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP)/Ag(2)S composite fibres were successfully prepared by a facile method called the electrospinning technique. Scanning electron microscopy analysis revealed the fibre morphology of the composite. Transmission electron microscopy showed spherical nanoparticles of the Ag(2)S component with an average particle size of about 15 nm and a good dispersion. X-ray diffraction results showed that a pure beta-Ag(2)S phase was obtained in the PVP fibres. X-ray photoelectron spectra (XPS) proved that the Ag and S elements exist in PVP/Ag(2)S composite fibres and quantitative analysis of the XPS showed that the atomic ratio of silver and sulfur was about 2. Fourier transform infrared and ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy were used to characterize the structure of the PVP/Ag(2)S composite fibres.