Covering of nanofibers on polystyrene and PS/C60 nanofiber films and the effects on light absorption and surface wettabilities

Fullerene (C60)-filled polystyrene (PS) nanofiber arrays are prepared using the anode aluminum oxide (AAO) template thermal molding technique. It is found that the filling of 5% fullerene and the forming of nanofibers on surfaces not only can alter the surface wettabilities, but they can boost light absorptions in UV-Visible frequencies. Sometimes, the effects of nanofibers on light absorption can be greater than that of filling small amount of C60 into PS. This was not reported previously. Results of adding β-cyclodextrin (betaCD) in the PS-C60 composites are also presented and proved that the benzene rings on PS molecules played an important role in light absorption. Results presented in this paper might be useful for the development of flexible light absorption devices.