Synthesis of single-crystalline lead sulfide nanoframes and nanorings

TL;DR

This paper introduces a colloidal synthesis method for creating single-crystalline PbS nanorings and nanoframes by controlling ripening processes and ligand interactions, enabling precise nanostructure fabrication.

Contribution

The study demonstrates a novel synthesis approach for PbS nanorings using ligand-controlled ripening, advancing nanostructure control in colloidal chemistry.

Findings

Successful synthesis of single-crystalline PbS nanorings and nanoframes.

Ligand interactions critically influence nanostructure formation.

Nanoring dimensions can be tuned by initial nanoframe morphology.

Abstract

We present a colloidal synthesis strategy to obtain single-crystalline PbS nanorings. By controlling the ripening process in the presence of halide ions, a transformation of initial PbS nanosheets to frame-like structures and finally to nanorings was achieved. We found that the competing ligands oleic acid, oleate and halide ions play an important role in the formation of these nanostructures. Therefore, we propose a formation mechanism based on a thermally induced ripening of crystal facets dependent on the surface passivation. With this method, it became possible to synthesize colloidal nanorings of cubic crystal phase galena PbS. The synthesis was followed via TEM and the products are characterized by XRD, AFM and STEM tomography. Control of the initial nanoframe morphology allows adjusting the later nanoring dimensions.