Microstructure and crystal structure of nanocrystalline powders and films of PbS

The microstructure and crystal structure of nanocrystalline powders and nanostructured films of lead sulfide PbS have been investigated using X-ray diffraction and electron microscopy. It has been found that, in the synthesized nanopowders, the average size of PbS nanoparticles ranges from 20 to 8 nm, whereas the average size of PbS nanoparticles in nanofilms varies from 80 to 40 nm. It has been shown that the nanocrystalline PbS powders have a cubic (space group $Fm\bar 3m$ ) structure of the B1 type. The nanostructured PbS films prepared by chemical precipitation on a glass substrate have a cubic (space group $Fm\bar 3m$ ) structure of the D0₃ type with the S atoms located in positions of two types: 4(b) and 8(c).