Developing of buffer-precipitation method for lead metaborate (Pb(BO2)2 H2O) nanostructures

Amorphous lead metaborate (Pb(BO2)(2)center dot H2O) 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(BO2)(2)center dot H2O 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(BO2)(2)center dot H2O nanostructures have a direct band gap of 4.6 eV.