Sonochemical and microwave-assisted preparations of PbTe and PbSe. A comparative study

Sonochemical and microwave-assisted polyol reduction methods were used to prepare PbSe and PbTe. Products prepared by both methods were compared and analyzed by XRD, EDX, TEM, HR-TEM, elemental analysis, FT-IR, and thermal methods (DSC and TGA). In both methods almost pure lead chalcogenide phases were prepared, which were almost free of carbon (<0.08%,), but the morphology of the resultant nanoparticles was entirely different. The mechanism of formation for the lead chalcogenide nanoparticles for both microwave and sonochemical reactions is discussed.