Biomimetic synthesis of PbS nanocubes in the lysozyme solution

Cubic phase PbS nanocubes were fabricated using lysozyme as template by biomimetic synthesis method at room temperature. The prepared nanocubes are uniform and monodispersed with homogeneous size around 45 nm. The interaction of Pb 2+/PbS with the lysozyme was studied through Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and the shift of characteristic IR peaks of the lysozyme suggesting that Pb 2+/PbS can react with − OH and − NH groups of the lysozyme. Optical properties of the obtained PbS nanocubes were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. PbS nanocrystals exhibit a well-defined emission feature at 470 nm excited by 300 nm wavelength (λ ex). The experimental results indicated that the lysozyme not only induced nucleation, but also inhibited the further growth of PbS crystals and play an important role in formation of PbS nanocubes. ►We first synthesized PbS nanocubes by biomimetic method in the lysozyme solutions. ►We have studied the interaction between Pb 2+/PbS and the lysozyme. ►Discussion of possible formation mechanism of PbS nanocubes.