Room temperature synthesis of PbS nanocrystals with different morphologies in PEO–PPO–PEO triblock copolymers

PbS nanocrystals with different morphologies were successfully synthesized in poly(ethylene oxide)–poly(propylene oxide)–poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO–PPO–PEO) triblock copolymers at room temperature with thioacetamide as the sulfur source. From TEM analysis, we found that both the solvents and the hydrophilic PEO fraction of the copolymers played a decisive role in controlling the morphology of the final products.