Using solid organic molecular precursor "[bis(salicylaldehyde) ethylenediiminelead(II)]; [Pb(salen)]" and "[bis(salicylaldehyde) phenylenediiminelead(II)]; [Pb(salophen)]" as precursors, for a surfactant-free method to synthesis PbTe nanostructures were proposed. The effect of time and temperature on the morphology of the products was investigated. Results showed that the main factor on formation of different morphologies of PbTe nanostructures was temperature, but by increasing the time the nanostructures grew together. It was found that the as-obtained PbTe nanostructures exhibit a strong PL peak at room temperature. (C) 2014 The Society of Powder Technology Japan. Published by Elsevier B. V. and The Society of Powder Technology Japan. All rights reserved.