Room temperature synthesis of organic surfactant-free PbS and PbSe nanoparticles exhibiting NIR absorption

Abstract

Chemically synthesized nanoparticles have organic molecules surrounding the particles as capping, which creates an inorganic-organic interface. These intimate interfaces influence the properties of the applied materials and subsequently the applications. Therefore, a method to produce surfactant-free PbS and PbSe nanoparticles at room temperature within 15 min of reaction time was developed. The materials, their morphologies, and optical properties were characterized by means of X-ray diffraction, electron microscopy, and UV-Vis-NIR spectroscopy. These particles were monodispersed with almost uniform size and shape with an average diameter of 2.07 ± 0.4 nm for PbS and 2.98 ± 0.6 nm for PbSe. UV-Vis-NIR spectra of these materials showed absorption spanning the NIR region.