Hierarchical Pb microstructures: a facile electrochemical synthesis, shape evolution and influencing factors

Abstract

Hierarchical Pb microstructures have been successfully synthesized via a facile electrochemical deposition route in air at room temperature, employing Pb(NO₃)₂ as the precursor in the presence of tartaric acid. The phase and morphology of the as-prepared product were characterized by means of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), selected area electron patterning (SAED) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Some factors influencing the formation of hierarchical Pb microstructures were systematically investigated, including the deposition current, duration, the original amount of tartaric acid, Pb²⁺ ion source, and additive. Experiments showed that tartaric acid and Pb(NO₃)₂ were indispensable in the formation of hierarchical Pb microstructures.