Synthesis and application of lead telluride nanoparticles for degrediation of organic pollution

• PbTe nanoparticles were synthesized via a hydrothermal method in 120 °C and 6 h.
• The effects of different parameters on PbTe formation were optimized.
• As-synthesized PbTe nanoparticles were used for degradation of organic pollution.
• As-prepared PbTe nanoparticles exhibit a strong PL peak at room temperature.

PbTe nanoparticles were achieved from reaction of Pb(NO)3 and TeCl4 (as a new precursor for Tellur) in a relatively short time and low temperature in a hydrothermal process. The photocatalytic behavior of nanoparticles was evaluated using the degradation of a methyl orange (MeO) aqueous solution (as an organic pollution) under ultraviolet (UV) light irradiation. The results confirm that nanoparticles are promising materials with excellent performance in photocatalytic applications. In addition to, observations suggest that the as-obtained PbTe nanoparticles exhibit a strong PL peak at room temperature that might be ascribed to the high level transition in the PbTe semiconductor.

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