Carboxymethyl cellulose stabilized lead sulfide nanocrystals: Synthesis, characterization and catalytic applications

Abstract

We present a biomolecule assisted method for facile aqueous phase synthesis of Lead sulfide (PbS) nanocrystals using carboxymethyl cellouse (CMC) as the capping/stabilizing agent. At 0.05% w/v amount of CMC, the spherical-shaped PbS nanocrystals are formed. The amount of CMC is increased to 0.1% w/v with respect to the 0.05% w/v CMC, the aggregated nanowire networks are formed by the assembling of rod shaped PbS nanoparticles. When, the amount of CMC is decreased to 0.01% w/v with respect to the 0.05% w/v CMC, the aggregated nanowire networks are formed by the assembling of PbS nanoparticles with random shapes. The X–ray diffraction and selected area electron diffraction pattern suggest that the crystalline structure of resulted PbS nanocrystals is cubic rock salt structure. The PbS nanocrystals stabilization is occurred through the interactions of hydroxyl (–OH) and carboxylate (–COO–) groups of CMC. The resulted bioconjugate semiconducting PbS nanocrystals were shown good catalytic activity for the chemical reduction of p-nitroaniline with sodium borohydride.