Facile microwave-assisted synthesis of PbS nanotubes

Nanoparticle-assembled tube-like PbS nanostructures were successfully fabricated in the aqueous solution of Pb(NO₃)₂, NH₂NHCSNH₂ and NaOH through a green microwave-assisted chemical synthesis route without using any surfactants. The products were characterised by X-ray diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy and selected area electron diffraction. The prepared PbS nanotubes are composed of nanoparticles with diameters of 20-40-nm. The outer diameter, the thickness and the length of the PbS nanotubes can be identified as 200-400-nm, 60-100-nm and 2-6--m, respectively. The influencing factors, such as alkaline source, sulphur source and lead source, were investigated. The experimental results revealed that the introduction of NaOH into the reaction system of Pb(NO₃)₂ and NH₂NHCSNH₂ is essential for the growth of tube-like PbS nanostructures.