PbSe hierarchical nanostructures: solvothermal synthesis, growth mechanism and their thermoelectric transportation properties

Abstract

Flower-like PbSe hierarchitectures constructed of dozens of microsheets were fabricated for the first time by a solvothermal route in an N,N-dimethylmethanamide and tetrahydrofuran system. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) were employed to characterize the as-obtained products. Some factors influencing the formation of the flower-like PbSe structure were systematically investigated. The possible growth mechanism of the PbSe superstructures was proposed to be a combined effect of dissolution–recrystallization and self-assembly process. Furthermore, the temperature-dependent thermoelectric transportation properties of the flower-like PbSe specimen were measured, and it was found that the electrical conductivity and the Seebeck coefficient can reach as high as 1.2 S cm⁻¹ and 254 μV K⁻¹, respectively.