Developing of buffer-precipitation method for lead metaborate (Pb(BO 2 ) 2 H 2 O) nanostructures

• Published in: Materials science--Poland Vol. 38; no. 1; pp. 138 - 142
• Main Authors: Bulbul, Berna, Beyaz, Seda
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.03.2020
• ISSN: 2083-134X; 2083-134X
• DOI: 10.2478/msp-2019-0092

Abstract Amorphous lead metaborate (Pb(BO 2 ) 2 H 2 O) nanostructures were synthesized by a simpl and cost-effective synthesis method which is based on precipitation of lead ions using boric acid/sodium hydroxide buffer (pH 9.2) in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG). Scanning electron microscopy images showed that the average particle size is 30±9 nm and the particle shape is mostly spherical. The chemical formulation of Pb(BO 2 ) 2 H 2 O was confirmed by infrared spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma and thermal gravimetric analysis (TGA). The percentage of PEG molecules on the particle surface equal to 2.5 % was determined by TGA. Optical reflectance measurement was performed by UV-Vis spectroscopy. Based on the Kubelka-Munk function, it was calculated that the Pb(BO 2 ) 2 H 2 O nanostructures have a direct band gap of 4.6 eV.