Preparation of rod-shape PbSO4 nanocrystal and its phase transition to PbS

With the presence of poly (sodium-p-styrene sulfonate) (PSS), which was used as a surfactant agent, lead sulfate (PbSO4) nanocrystals with different morphologies were successfully synthesized in mild conditions. The obtained products were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results showed that temperature and concentration of PSS played key roles in controlling the morphologies of the products. At a certain concentration of PSS, PbSO4 nanorods with diameters of 50-200 nm and typical aspect ratios of 4-6 were obtained. Lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystals can be obtained via the phase transition of PbSO4 by adding thioacetamide (TAA) as sulfur source. The lamina-like PbS nanocrystals were also obtained without adding any other surfactant.