Growth of PbS crystals from nanocubes to eight-horn-shaped dendrites through a complex synthetic route

PbS nanocubic and dendritic crystals were successfully prepared by a complex solvothermal synthetic route using Pb(NO3)2 and dithizone as reagents and ethylenediamine as solvent. The complex precursor was found to effectively play an important role in the morphologies of PbS crystals. Investigations suggest that the nanocubes (diameter range of 70 nm) were obtained under high flux of monomers in relative short reaction duration, and the dendrites were formed through an oriented attachment growth from the cubes under a subsequent process. Scanning electron microscope studies show that the dendrites have three-dimensional eight-horn-shaped dendritic structure. The influence of the reaction temperature, duration and precursors has been discussed. On the basis of the experimental results, a growth mechanism of the PbS crystals was proposed, which was supported by the technical characterizations.