Abstract
In this article, the structural, vibrational, optical, dielectric and electrical properties of undoped and Pr:PbS nanoparticles (NPs) have been discussed and found suitable for optoelectronic devices. The structural property of the prepared NPs was done by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and their microstructural parameters have been evaluated. The crystallite sizes, lattice strains and dislocations density were found in the range of 14–18 nm, 1.6 × 10−4-2.2 × 10−4 and 3.0 × 10−3-4.8 × 10−3 for the prepared NPs respectively. The obtained optical band gaps were found on the scale of 1.414, 1.494, 1.402, and 1.458 eV for undoped, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 wt % of Pr: PbS NPs respectively. The values of dielectric constant 22, 25, 26, and 39 at lower frequencies were reported for undoped, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 wt % Pr:PbS NPs respectively. Ideality factors such as 1.46, 1.42, 1.47, and 1.60 have been evaluated from the current-voltage characteristic of 0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 wt% Pr: PbS NPs respectively.
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•Facile chemical synthesis of pure and Pr:PbS nanostructures is reported.•Structural, vibrational and compositional studied confirm cubic phase of Pr:PbS NSs.•Nanoscale synthesis of pure and Pr doped PbS was observed by FESEM analysis.•High dielectric constant was noticed for Pr:PbS NSs and enhancement was noticed with Pr doping.•Ideality factors such as 1.46, 1.42, 1.47, and 1.60 have been evaluated from the I–V characteristics.