Mechanochemical synthesis of nanocrystalline lead selenide

Mechanochemical synthesis of lead selenide PbSe nanoparticles has been performed by high-energy milling of lead and selenium powder in a planetary ball mill Pulverisette 6 (Fritsch, Germany) and in an industrial eccentric vibratory mill ESM 654 (Siebtechnik GmbH, Germany). Structural properties of the synthesized lead selenide were characterized by X-ray diffraction, which confirms crystalline nature of PbSe nanoparticles (JCPDS 6-354). The average size of PbSe crystallites of 37 nm was calculated from XRD data by Williamson-Hall method. The methods of particle size distribution analysis, specific surface area measurement, scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy were used for characterization of surface, mean particle size, and morphology of PbSe. An application of industrial mill verified a possibility of the synthesis of a narrowband-gap semiconductor PbSe at ambient temperature and in a relatively short reaction time.