Correlation between structural and optical properties of 30 nm and 60 nm lead sulfide nanowires

Abstract PbS nanowires with 30 nm and 60 nm diameter fabricated under the same condition of electrochemical deposition with sulfuric and oxalic anodic alumina membranes (AAM), respectively, have been successfully prepared in order to study their optical properties in relation to their size. Scanning electron microscopy indicates that the 60 nm PbS nanowire arrays have the same shape with the 30 nm. X-ray diffraction result shows that 60 nm PbS nanowires are crystalline and have a highly (200) preferential orientation like 30 nm ones. UV spectrum considers the nanowire size decrease as the absorption peak shifts to the blue. The quantum confinement effects compared between 30 nm and 60 nm PbS nanowire arrays were observed by the measurements of ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy (UV–vis).