PbS micro-nanostructures with controlled morphologies by a novel thermal decomposition approach

摘要

A novel synthetic approach for the preparation of PbS micro-nanostructures with different morphologies has been reported. PbS micro-nanostructures with various morphologies such as stars, dendrites, hexapods, and cubes were synthesized by thermal decomposition of lead acetate and thiourea in ethylene glycol at 120 degrees C, in air, in the absence of any surfactant. The PbS micro-nanostructures were characterized using different analytical techniques such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. The effect of different synthetic parameters such as Pb2+:S2- ratio, decomposition temperature, time, and source of sulfur on the morphologies of PbS was investigated and the mechanism for the formation of micronanostructures with different morphologies has also been proposed.