Synthesis of Lead Oxide Carboxylate Single Crystals and Nanostructures

Science Center, Bent Corridor

Low-dimensional materials are systems with at least one spatial dimension on the nanoscale. These systems have received attention because of their unique properties that can differ from their bulk counterparts with the same chemical identity. Lead benzoate compounds recently synthesized in our laboratory have been shown to form low-dimensional wire-shaped structures on the nanoscale after undergoing liquid exfoliation. The goals of this summer’s work included optimization of these solution processing methods and their extension to new compounds of the lead benzoate family. We have characterized materials using single crystal and powder X-ray diffraction as well as scanning electron microscopy. Synthesis of new lead benzoate compounds with halogenated benzoate ligands proved successful in producing wire nanostructures. Characterization methods have provided evidence that the solution processing conditions convert lead benzoate compounds with halogenated ligands to nanowires of the corresponding lead oxide benzoates.