Photoluminescence and Raman evidence for mechanico-chemical interaction of polyaniline-emeraldine base with ZnS in cubic and hexagonal phase

The mechanico-chemical interaction of a polyaniline-emeraldine base (PANI-EB) with ZnS in the cubic and wurtzite phases is studied by Raman spectroscopy and photoluminescence (PL). The results demonstrate that such an interaction leads to the formation of a PANI-salt and metallic Zn. Regardless of the structural form of the ZnS, the formation PANI-salt is indicated by a band in the Raman spectrum that shifts from 1162 to 1176cm−1 and the appearance of a new band at 1330cm−1 that indicates the protonated structure of a PANI-salt. The presence of the second product is determined by comparative PL studies performed on ZnS that has interacted mechanico-chemically with PANI-EB and metallic Zn powder. The variations of the PL spectra and their associated excitation spectra are explained as resulting from the charge collection processes that occur in the composite materials produced by the mechanico-chemical interaction between ZnS and PANI-EB or metallic Zn. Photoluminescence spectra of ZnS with cubic (a1) and wurtzite (a2) structure. [Display omitted] ► Mechanico-chemical interaction of polyaniline-emeraldine base with ZnS forms a hybrid material. ► One used ZnS in two structural forms, cubic and hexagonal. ► The hexagonal structure was obtained from the cubic structure annealed in vacuum at 1050°C. ► The hybrid material was studied by photoluminescence and Raman spectroscopy. ► A charge collection process activated by the presence of polymer molecules is demonstrated.