Cadmium sulfide nanoparticles with controllable morphology, photoluminescence and photocatalytic activity templated by worm-like dendronized poly(amido amine)s

The present study reports that dendronized poly(amido amine)s (DPs) can be used as templates for the preparation of organic–inorganic hybrid cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS NPs) with controllable morphology and performance. The DPs are synthesized via the combination of macromonomer strategy and “graft-from” strategy. It is found that the concentration and molecular structures (generation and peripheral groups) of DPs dominate the morphology of CdS NPs, forming CdS quantum dots aggregates exhibiting spherical or nanowire morphologies, as characterized by UV–vis spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The obtained PG/CdS NPs have both photoluminescence and photocatalytic activity, as evaluated by fluorescence spectroscopy and UV-degradation of methyl orange, respectively. The quantum yields and photocatalytic reaction rates are dominated by their morphologies and peripheral groups. The results show that the structures of dendronized polymer templates have significant impact on the morphology of CdS NPs, and further dominate their photoluminescence and photocatalytic activity.