Characterization, spectroscopic investigation of defects by positron annihilation, and possible application of synthesized PbO nanoparticles*

Abstract

Nanocrystalline samples of highly pure lead oxide were prepared by the sol-gel route of synthesis. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopic techniques confirmed the nanocrystallinity of the samples, and the average sizes of the crystallites were found within 20 nm to 35 nm. The nanocrystallites exhibited specific anomalous properties, among which a prominent one is the increased lattice parameters and unit cell volumes. The optical band gaps also increased when the nanocrystallites became smaller in size. The latter aspect is attributable to the onset of quantum confinement effects, as seen in a few other metal oxide nanoparticles. Positron annihilation was employed to study the vacancy type defects, which were abundant in the samples and played crucial roles in modulating their properties. The defect concentrations were significantly larger in the samples of smaller crystallite sizes. The results suggested the feasibility of tailoring the properties of lead oxide nanocrystallites for technological applications, such as using lead oxide nanoparticles in batteries for better performance in discharge rate and resistance. It also provided the physical insight into the structural build-up process when crystallites were formed with a finite number of atoms, whose distributions were governed by the site stabilization energy.