Abstract
Herein, facile CTAB surfactant-assisted synthesis of Pb1-xCuxS (x = 0, 0.1, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5 & 5.0 wt%) nanostructures (NSs) via a microwave route within 10 mins was attained and investigated for their structural, optical, vibrational, dielectric and electrical properties using X-ray diffraction, FT-Raman, UV-VIS, impedance and I-V measurements. Structural study with Rietveld refinement confirms the synthesis of PbS predominantly with cubic phase; however, at higher content of Cu some CuS peaks are detected. The values crystallite size of all Pb1-xCuxS specimens were determined between 19 and 25 nm and the specific surface area between 31 and 40 m2/g. Vibrational modes are noticed at 59.59, 74.05, 127.04, 268.82, 426.96, 601.49 cm-1 in all specimens confirmed cubic PbS NSs synthesis. As received powders were tested through DRS to evaluate the energy gap values via Kubelka-Munk model and noticed between 1.02 +/- 0.01 to 1.37 +/- 0.01 eV tuned with crystallite size. Dielectric studies reveal that the Cu doping enhanced the capacitance/dielectric constant and ac electrical conductivity of PbS NSs. Moreover, the I-V nature of the prepared Pb1-xCuxS NSs was measured, and dc conductivity was calculated and noticed to be enriched with Cu doping. The enhanced dielectric and electrical properties make the prepared materials useful for optoelectronic devices.