Microwave heating synthesis of HgS and PbS nanocrystals in ethanol solvent

A novel route was developed to prepare PbS and HgS nanocrystals in ethanol solvent in the presence of sodium hydroxide by microwave heating method. PbS and HgS nanocrystals were obtained with an average size of approximately 10 and 6 nm, respectively. In the reaction, mercury acetate and lead acetate were used as mercury and lead source; sulfur powder was employed as chalcogenide source. The products were characterized by X-ray powder analysis (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and UV–Vis absorption spectroscopy. The probable mechanism was presented.