Synthesis, structural and electrical characterization of PbS NCs in titania sol-gel films

Nanocrystals of lead sulfide were grown in TiO₂ (titania) thin films prepared by a sol-gel process. The synthetic procedure as well as the structural, optical, and electrical properties of the films are demonstrated. The structures and morphology of PbS nanocrystals were analyzed using HRTEM, SAED, AFM, HRSEM, XRD and EDAX elemental analysis technique. When the concentration of PbS in the titania matrix is 20 mol%, PbS NCs with a diameter of 2.0 nm are created. At a higher PbS concentration (> 40 mole%) in the titania matrix, PbS NCs and PbS clusters are created not only within the TiO₂ film but also on the external surface of the TiO₂ film. By increasing the PbS concentration up to 50 mol%, PbS nanocrystals of 6-8 nm in diameter are formed within the titania film and PbS clusters with a base size of about 100 nm² and a height up to about 20 nm were self assembled on the external surface of TiO₂ film. Quantum size effect and band gap energies were obtained from shifts of the absorption edge. For electrical measurements, PbS-TiO₂ films were deposited on an ITO/glass substrate, and then covered with gold contact. The electrical properties of ITO/PbS NCs-TiO₂/Au and ITO/PbS NCs-TiO₂/PbS cluster/Au structures were studied. I-V characteristics of the one layer structure are nearly linear and symmetric, while those of the two-layer structure exhibit rectifying behavior.