title: Superstructures of PbS nanocrystals in a conjugated polymer and the aligning role of oxidation.
abstract: We present a method to directly align PbS nanocrystals in micron-sized superstructures within a conjugated polymer. First, lead sulfide nanocrystals are directly synthesized in a MEH-PPV suspension via a single pot, surfactant-free method. Post-synthesis precipitation of the composite solution involving mild oxidation of the nanocrystals results in the formation of nanocrystal-polymer and nanocrystal-oxide superstructures. Detailed TEM is used to study the crystallographic nature of these structures and the roles of polymer and lead sulfate. An epitaxial relationship between lead sulfide and lead sulfate at the nanoscale is shown, giving insight into the oxidation rates of the PbS nanocrystals' facets.
authors.affiliation: Department of Materials, University of Oxford, Parks Road, Oxford OX1 3PH, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandros
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Stavrinadis
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jamie H
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Warner
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Hutchison
authors.forename: Jason M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Andrew A R
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Watt