Multidimensional self-assembly of peanut shaped PbS nanostructures

Abstract

Peanut shaped PbS nanocrystals are synthesized and their self-assemblies have been studied by means of solvent evaporation. Multi-scale ordered self-assemblies of PbS nanopeanuts have been achieved by solvent evaporation route and interparticle interactions in the solution phase. The self-assembly mechanism produces compact monolayers with long-range ordering over macroscopic areas, which have been utilized for fabricating photovoltaics devices. A current–voltage response upon white light irradiation was measured with increasing photocurrent upon increasing incident light intensity. Repetitive on-off device response to white illumination flux is found to be sharp and repeatable over successive on/off irradiation cycles. Such simple self-assembled route is useful for the fabrication of technologically important ultra thin film materials for sensors and photovoltaic devices.