Preparation of PbS-type PbO nanocrystals in a room-temperature ionic liquid

In a strong polar environment of ionic liquid 1-n-butyl-3-ethylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate [BEIM]BF4, PbO nanocrystals with PbS-type crystal structure were successfully synthesized by the thermal decomposition of Pb(OH)(2) at 180 degrees C for 3 h under ambient pressure. The product was characterized by X-ray powder diffraction'(XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), electric diffraction (ED), X-ray photoelectron spectrum (XPS) and elemental analysis. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V All rights reserved.