Synthesis and characterization of novel ferrocene/PbS nanocomposite material by low-temperature co-precipitation method

Abstract

PbS nanocrystals are widely employed in light-emitting diodes, photovoltaic and electroluminescent devices due to their intriguing electronic and optical properties. To tailor their physicochemical characteristics, the fabrication of PbS nanocomposites with a carbon matrix is essential. This study prepared a composite material of ferrocene with lead sulfide nanostructures using the low-temperature co-precipitation synthesis method under alkaline conditions. The reaction mixture was maintained at 60 °C for 4 h at pH = 11. The successful fabrication was confirmed by comprehensive analysis, including X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), infrared Spectroscopy (IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the as-synthesized composite material. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and photoluminescence (PL) emission studies were conducted to assess thermal stability and electronic properties. The TGA profile indicated a weight percentage of 30 % ferrocene in the nanocomposite. Notably, incorporating ferrocene into PbS nanocrystals induced a blue shift in the PL emission peak from 712 nm to 690 nm, suggesting the quantum confinement effect. These findings highlight the successful synthesis of the ferrocene/PbS nanocomposite and demonstrate its potential for advanced electronic and optoelectronic applications. Continued research could pave the way for innovative nanomaterial-based technologies, driving progress in diverse industrial and biomedical fields.