Synthesis and characterization of novel three-dimensional-cauliflower-like nanostructure of lead(II) oxalate and its thermal decomposition for preparation of PbO

We synthesized three-dimensional cauliflower-like lead(II) oxalate (PbC2O4) nanostructures by solvothermal method and then decomposed to nano-scaled lead(II) oxide (PbO) by thermal decomposition. The PbC2O4 was decomposed at 350-600 degrees C with releasing of carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. The experimental results indicate that acetaldehyde plays a unique role in controlling the morphologies of PbC2O4. The prepared products were characterized with XRD, SEM, EDS, TG and FT-IR spectroscopies. (C) 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.