PbS nanostructures synthesized via surfactant assisted mechanochemical route

PbS nanocrystals using surfactant assisted mechanochemical route has been successfully prepared. The methods of XRD, SEM, surface area and particle size measurements were used for nanocrystals characterization. The XRD patterns confirmed the presence of galena PbS (JCPDS 5–592) whatever treatment conditions were applied. The strong observable peaks indicate the highly crystalline nature in formation of PbS nanostructures where preferential crystal growth in the (200) direction after chelating agent (EDTANa₂•2H₂O) addition has been observed. The mean volume weighted crystallite size 4.9 nm and 35 nm has been calculated from XRD data using Williamson-Hall method for PbS synthesized without and/or with chelating agent, respectively corresponding with surface weighted crystallites sizes of 2.9 and 18.8 nm. The sample prepared without surfactant yields the smaller crystallites and the higher microstrain compared with surfactant assisted synthesis. The obtained results illustrate a possibility to manipulate crystal morphology by combining effect of milling and surfactant application.