Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of novel PbSe dendritic structures

Well-defined crystalline dendritic structured lead selenide (PbSe) was prepared via a template-free, facile hydrothermal route using Pb(NO3)2 as the lead ion source, selenourea (CH4N2Se) as the selenide source at 150 °C for 24 h. The sample was characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) and transmission electronic microscopy (TEM). XRD patterns showed that phase-pure PbSe was produced. Novel PbSe dendritic structure is synthesized as indicated by SEM and TEM. The quality and composition of the products was determined with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The influencing factors for the morphologies are discussed and the formation mechanisms are proposed. The studies on the corresponding photoluminescence (PL) properties of the dendritic structured PbSe were also carried out.