Hydrothermal synthesis and characterization of PbS cage-like structures

A hydrothermal route has been proposed for the synthesis of PbS cage-like structures from Pb(NO3)(2), Na2SO4 and Na2S center dot 9H(2)O. This route involved a two-step procedure (that is, first, PbSO4 was prepared through the precipitation reaction of Pb(NO3)(2) and Na2SO4 in distilled water under the ambient condition; second, cubic phase PbS with cage-like structure was prepared via the hydrothermal reaction of PbSO4 and Na2S center dot 9H(2)O at 180 degrees C for 12 h). The resultant products were characterized by X-ray diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscope, transmission electron microscopy, high resolution transmission electron microscopy, and room temperature Raman spectra. It was observed that PbS cage-like structures had unique optical property and may be useful in further applications such as Raman detectors. (C) 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.