Hydrothermal synthesis of star-like and dendritic PbS nanoparticles from new precursors

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanostructures with different morphologies and particle sizes were obtained via a simple hydrothermal reaction between lead (Ⅱ) salicylate (Pb(Hsal) 2 ) and thiourea (tu). Reaction products were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) and Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Morphology of the product, varying from star-like to dendritic, depends on the mole ratio of tu to (Pb(Hsal) 2 ), pH, and reaction time.