Low‐Temperature Synthesis of Star‐Shaped PbS Nanocrystals in Aqueous Solutions of Mixed Cationic/Anionic Surfactants

Abstract

Uniform, well-defined star-shaped PbS nanocrystals with tunable sizes (40–100 nm, see Figure), as well as octahedral PbS nanocrystals, have been readily synthesized in aqueous solutions containing a mixture of the surfactants cetyltrimethylammonium bromide/ sodium dodecyl sulfate (CTAB/SDS) at low temperature (80 °C). The size of the PbS nanostars can be accurately controlled by adjusting the reaction time. This result may open new avenues for the green chemical synthesis of shape-controlled semiconductor nanocrystals.