Preparation and characterization of monodispersed PbSe nanocubes

Monodispersed PbSe nanocubes were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal method by using Pb 2+ ‐EDTA complex and Na 2 SeSO 3 . Composition and morphology of the samples were characterized by means of XRD, TEM and SEM. The gradually releasing of Pb 2+ from Pb 2+ ‐EDTA complex, and the adopting of PVP can adjust the growth rate in <100> and <111> directions of PbSe. Both Pb 2+ ‐EDTA complex and PVP played important roles in the crystal growth of the monodispersed PbSe nanocubes. In addition, UV‐vis and photoluminescence properties were characterized. E g of the PbSe nanocubes is 1.5 eV approximately, which is much larger than that of bulk PbSe. Under PL excitation at 406 nm, a red emission peak at 696 nm is observed, showing that the synthesized PbSe is luminescent nanomaterials. (© 2010 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)