An impact of La doping content on key physical properties of PbS spherical nanoparticles facilely synthesized via low temperature chemical route

Herein, we are reporting a facile chemical process to attain high-grade PbS spherical nanoparticles with diverse La doping contents at low temperature and named it as La@PbS SNPs. All the prepared La@PbS SNPs samples are of single-cubic phase with good crystalline nature confirmed from XRD and Rietveld refinement. Along with lattice constants several other structure-related parameters like size, dislocations, strain, stacking fault, density and specific surface area were calculated. EDX and SEM-e-mapping analyses confirm the presence of La in PbS with homogeneous distribution throughout the samples. For morphological investigation FESEM was employed, which approved the synthesis of SNPs of low dimensions at all La contents. FT-Raman analysis shows characteristics vibrational modes related to cubic-PbS and that is in good accordance with XRD outcomes. Energy gap values were determined through Kubelka-Munk procedure and noticed to lie between 1.01 to 1.103 eV (Delta E=0.093eV) Delta E = 0.093 \;{\text{eV}}) $$\end{document}, this shows a very minute shift in energy gap with La doping in PbS. Dielectric constant (epsilon '), loss tangent, dielectric loss and impedance values were assessed and stable values of epsilon ' were noticed in 20-50 range and 5.0 wt % La@PbS SNPs possesses highest value. The ac electrical conductivity analysis revealed enhancement with La content in PbS. The correlated barrier hoping mechanism was involved in the prepared La@PbS SNPs. Furthermore, the DC electrical properties were studied and discussed the impact of La content. Graphic abstract