Living bio-membrane bi-template route for simultaneous synthesis of lead selenide nanorods and nanotubes

In this paper, a novel method is reported by which semiconductor materials are synthesized via controlled organism membranes. Semiconductor lead selenide nanorods and nanotubes have been successfully prepared simultaneously through living bio-membrane bi-templates of the mungbean sprout. The lead selenide nanorods are approximately 45 nm in diameter, and up to 1100 nm in length; all of them are single crystalline in structure. Lead selenide nanotubes are 50 nm in diameter, and up to 2000 nm in length, and are poly-crystalline in structure. The characteristics of the products are illustrated by various means, and their possible formation mechanism is explored.