Star-shaped PbS nanocrystals prepared by hydrothermal process in the presence of thioglycolic acid

Nanocrystalline PbS with different morphologies and particle sizes was obtained via a simple hydrothermal reaction between Pb(NO3)(2) and thioglycolic acid (TGA) at relatively low temperature. Products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-Vis) spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Depending on the reactant concentration and molar ratio of TGA to the lead nitrate, the morphologies of the PbS crystals varied and the crystals with shapes of nanoparticles, star-like dendrite and nanorods were obtained. The effect of reaction temperature and reaction time on the morphology and particle sizes of nanocrystalline PbS products has been investigated. (C) 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.