Chemical synthesis and functional properties of multi-ligands passivated lead sulfide nanoparticles

• Monodispersed synthesis of PbS nanoparticles by chemical method.
• Multi-ligands effectively controlled the size of PbS nanoparticles.
• PbS nanoparticles exhibited the significant functional properties.

Lead sulfide (PbS) nanoparticles were synthesized using multi-capping ligands such as thioglycerol and polyvinyl alcohol. X-ray diffraction patterns showed the formation of cubic crystal structure of PbS. Optical studies revealed the formation of trap level free nanoparticles and very low full width half maximum of photoluminescence peak. Addition of polyvinyl alcohol led to strong quantum confinement with high photoluminescent intensity. Surface morphology of the PbS nanoparticles revealed the formation of spherical particles with the size of 15–20 nm. High resolution transmission microscopy analysis confirmed the high crystalline nature of the nanoparticles and core–shell like morphology of polyvinyl alcohol surrounded on thioglycerol-capped PbS nanoparticles. Fourier transform infrared spectra confirmed the presence of organic ligands on the PbS nanoparticles.