Structural, optical and photocatalytic studies of oleylamine capped PbS nanoparticles

Bis(phenylpiperazine dithiocarbamato)lead(II) complex was synthesized, characterized and thermolyzed in oleylamine at 150, 190 and 230 degrees C to prepare lead sulphide (PbS) nanoparticles. The powder X-ray diffraction patterns of the PbS nanoparticles were indexed to the cubic rock salt phase. The size of the PbS nanoparticles obtained from transmission electron microscope (TEM) is 13.11-36.35 nm for PbS1 prepared at 150 degrees C, 24.26-55.44 nm for PbS2 prepared at 190 degrees C and 48.27-98.88 nm for PbS3 prepared at 230 degrees C. The estimated bandgap energy of the PbS nanoparticles from Tauc plot is in the range 4.20-4.33 eV. PbS2 and PbS3 showed broad emission spectra at 474 nm and 465 nm respectively, while sharp emission was observed for PbS3 at 446 nm. The as-synthesized PbS nanoparticles was used as photocatalyst for the degradation of rhodamine B with 50.58% efficiency and high recyclability properties after four reuses without any sign of deactivation.

Automated summary

Lead sulphide (PbS) nanoparticles were synthesized by thermolysis of bis(phenylpiperazine dithiocarbamato)lead(II) complex in oleylamine at different temperatures, showing variations in particle size and bandgap energy. The PbS nanoparticles exhibited efficient photocatalytic degradation of rhodamine B and retained high recyclability properties after multiple reuses without deactivation.