Synthesis of Co3O4/Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) Core/Shell Composite Property

Co3O4/Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PNVC) composite with enhanced optical property was synthesized via a simple in situ bulk polymerization of NVC monomers in the presence Of Co3O4 nanoparticles at an elevated temperature. High-resolution electron microscopic observations showed that the Co3O4 nanoparticles were coated with uniform nanolayer shells of PNVC. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy revealed the presence of strong interactions between the PNVC polymer chains with the Co3O4 surface in the Co3O4/PNVC composite. Raman spectroscopic results supported conclusions based on electron microscopy and FT-IR spectra. The uniform nanolayer coating of PNVC decreases the inherent bulk conductivity of Co3O4, however, significantly increases the fluorescence property of Co3O4.