Crystal structure of nanostructured PbS films at temperatures of 293–423 K

The crystal structure of lead sulfide films prepared by the hydrochemical deposition has been studied by X-ray diffraction. The thickness of the films synthesized is ∼100 nm, the size of coherent scattering regions is ∼70 nm, and the value of microstrains is ∼0.20%. It is established, for the first time, that the as-synthesized PbS films and the same films annealed in the temperature range 293–423 K have a cubic crystal structure (space group Fm3m) different from the B1-type structure. In the crystal lattice of the structure revealed, sulfur atoms are located not only in the 4(b) positions but also in the 8(c) positions. The occupancies of the 4(b) and 8(c) positions by the S atoms are ∼0.84 and 0.08, respectively.