One-pot synthesis of PbS NP/sulfur-oleylamine copolymer nanocomposites via the copolymerization of elemental sulfur with oleylamine

A novel synthetic and processing strategy for converting elemental sulfur into polymeric and nanocomposite materials is reported. We describe a facile one-pot reaction using elemental sulfur and oleylamine as comonomers to prepare high sulfur content copolymers and lead sulfide nanoparticle (PbS NP) nanocomposites. This process enables the preparation of solution processable copolymers and nanocomposites, where the loading and dispersion of PbS NP inclusions could be precisely controlled. We demonstrate the dual roles of oleylamine with sulfur for both the copolymerization of sulfur copolymers as well as the in situ synthesis of PbS NPs in a one-pot fashion.