Controlled synthesis of high quality PbSe and PbTe nanocrystals with one-pot method and their self-assemblies

► High quality PbSe and PbTe nanocrystals were synthesized by one-pot method. ► The use of traditional dangerous pyrophoric trioctylphosphine (TOP) and tributylphosphine (TBP) reagents was avoided. ► Crystal shape was controlled by the selective ligand adsorbing on different facets. ► As-synthesized nanocrystals self assembled into ordered superstructures.