A Mixed Solvothermal Route to Synthesis of Dice-Like PbS

The authors developed a simple solvothermal route to synthesis of PbS nanocrystals in the mild binary mixed solvent made of diethylenetriamine (DETA) and water. Two kinds of PbS nanostructures (dice-like and cubic) have been successfully synthesized in the binary mixed solvothermal system at 150 °C by changing the sulfur source. The products were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), field emission scanning electron microscope (FESEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results show that the as-prepared dice-like PbS crystals have a hole on each of their faces. To elucidate the relationship between reaction systems and the morphologies of the final products, the authors also investigated the crystal growth by using different sulfur source. Based on the experimental results, the possible growth mechanism of the dice-like PbS crystals was proposed.