Hierarchical nanostructures of PbS obtained in the presence of water soluble polymers

•The generation of PbS nanoparticles in the presence of water soluble polymers was realized.•The obtained structures were put into evidence by SEM and XRD analysis.•Two types of crystalline structures were induced by the electrodeposition.

This study presents the generation of lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystalline structures in the presence of water soluble polymers with different chemical structures. The PbS films were obtained by electrochemical deposition process on ITO glass substrate. The scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis revealed two types of PbS crystalline morphologies that form simultaneously, depending on the chemical structure of the polymer inducing the modification of the crystal growth mechanisms. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses showed that PbS structures presented cubic crystallographic pattern.

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