STRUCTURAL AND OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF SINGLE CRYSTALLINE BISMUTH NANOPARTICLES IN POLYMER

Abstract

We report here the structural and optical properties of Bi nanoparticles in polymer (polypyrrole) matrix. The nanoparticles are synthesized following a wet chemical route. The X-ray diffraction data clearly shows the growth of single crystalline Bi nanoparticles within the host polymer. The microstructure of the Bi nanoparticles obtained by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals clearly the formation of spherical shaped nanoparticles of average size∼27 nm with a narrow size distribution. The optical absorption spectrum exhibits a distinct peak at 278 nm which is attributed to the surface plasmon band of Bi nanoparticles. The absorption spectrum is found to be described well following Mie theory.