The effects of synthesis parameters on the formation of PbI2 particles under DTAB-assisted hydrothermal process

► Submicron- and micron-sized PbI2 particles were hydrothermally synthesized. ► Structural transformation form belt-like to rod- and microtube-like was observed. ► Phase-pure PbI2 particles could be hydrothermally obtained at pH <7. ► Increasing amount of DTAB resulted in structural transformation of PbI2 particles. ► The optical band gap energy of PbI2 was slightly affected by morphology.