Submicron- and micron-sized lead iodide (PbI2) particles with well-controlled morphologies were successfully fabricated via a low-temperature hydrothermal process assisted by dodecyltrimethylam-monium bromide (DTAB) as cationic surfactant. The as-synthesized powders were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and UV-vis spectroscopy. The effects of synthesis parameters (temperature, time, pH, and surfactant amount) were systematically investigated. The obtained results showed that the submicron structure was belt-like at 100-120 degrees C, transformed to rod-like by increasing temperature to 140 degrees C and it became a microtube-like at 160-200 degrees C. By changing the pH of the synthesizing solution, it was found that a pure PbI2 phase could be obtained below 7. With the addition of increasing amount of surfactant, microparticles were converted to microrods -> submicron belts -> microtubes. The time-dependent experimental results revealed that the dissolution-recrystallization and dissolution-recrystallization-self-oriented-attachment were considered to be the possible mechanisms for the formation of the belt- and tube-like PbI2 submicron- and micron-sized particles, respectively. The optical properties of the PbI2 particles synthesized at 100-200 degrees C for 8 h under hydrothermal conditions were also studied. (C) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.