Carbothermal reduction/sulfidation synthesis and structural characterization of PbS nanobelts and nanowires

Abstract

PbS nanobelts and nanowires were successfully synthesized through a carbothermal reduction/sulfidation method, in which a powder mixture of sulfur, PbCl2 and active carbon was heated to 600 °C under ambient pressure. Structural characterizations show that the one-dimensional nanostructures grow with a [110] orientation. The nanobelts do not have any crystal defects but the nanowires have deformations, dislocations and grain boundaries, including Σ17 [001] tilt grain boundaries, Σ17 [001] symmetric grain boundaries and Σ5 [001] tilt grain boundaries. According to coincidence site lattice theory, the models for the fitted atoms in Σ17 [001] tilt grain boundaries and Σ17 [001] symmetric grain boundaries are established. The growth mechanism has also been discussed. This first report on PbS microstructures, especially on defects, might be beneficial in studying their synthesis, characterization and applications in the near future.