Alignment of Colloidal CdS Nanowires Embedded in Polymer Nanofibers by Electrospinning

Abstract

Nanoropes: Electrospinning of a polyethylene oxide with colloidal CdS quantum wires (QWs) produces polymer nanofibers with diameters in the range of 30 to 200 nm. The encapsulating wires are aligned along their long axes, parallel to the stretching direction of the nanofiber. An electrostatic field induces the alignment of the QW–polymer nanofibers into a one-dimensional nanorope (see diagram), which results in linearly polarized emission.