Thin single-wall BN-nanotubes formed inside carbon nanotubes

Abstract

We report a high yield synthesis of single-wall boron nitride nanotubes (SWBNNTs) inside single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), a nano-templated reaction, using ammonia borane complexes (ABC) as a precursor. Transmission electron microscope (TEM), high angle annular dark field (HAADF)-scanning TEM (STEM), electron energy loss spectra (EELS) and high resolution EELS mapping using aberration-corrected TEM system clearly show the formation of thin SWBNNTs inside SWCNTs. We have found that the yield of the SWBNNT formation is high and that the most of ABC molecules decompose and fuse to form the thin BNNTs at a temperature of 1,673 K having a narrow diameter distribution of 0.7 ± 0.1 nm. Optical absorption measurements suggest that the band gap of the thin SWBNNTs is about 6.0 eV, which provide the ideal insulator nanotubes with very small diameters.

Preparation and functionalization of boron nitride containing carbon nanohorns for boron neutron capture therapy

“…If the ammonium borane is heated with SWCNT, hexagonal BN nanotubes form inside the SWCNTs [18]. As estimated from these studies, the BN sheets become deposited on CNHs when they are heated with ammonia borane, evidence of which is shown below.…”

“…It has been reported that o-carborane can be incorporated inside SWCNTs [35], and BN tubes can be formed inside SWCNTs [18]. The attachment of boron compounds to the outside of carbon nanotubes has also been reported [11].…”

“…CNH has low toxicity [14,15] and is modifiable with a tumor-targeting molecule of folic acid [16]. A method that uses ammonium borane for the creation of BN films [17] and BN tubes inside singlewalled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs) [18] has been adapted to load BN on CNHs. The obtained BN-loaded CNH (BN-CNH) was functionalized with phospholipid polyethylene glycol (PLPEG) conjugated with folate (PLPEG-FA).…”

Self-Assembly of Graphene Nanoribbons Induced by the Carbon Nanotube

“…Over the past decade, the self-assembled systems [2,3] relied on the special hollow structure of cylindrical SWCNTs, are an attractive class of new bio-inspired nanomaterial for biologists and material scientists, because the self-assembled materials may not only be designed to be highly dynamic, displaying adaptive and self-healing properties, but could also help gain an understanding of the rules that govern biomolecule assembly processes [4]. In the self-assembly process, the hollow interior of SWCNT can serve as nanometre-sized moulds and templates [5] to control the configuration of other materials, or as a protective layer [6] to prevent the filler from oxidation and shape fragmentation. The physical and chemistry properties of the heterostructure are expected to be modified due to the interaction between SWCNT and exotic materials [7].…”

A molecular dynamics study on the vibration of carbon and boron nitride double-walled hybrid nanotubes

“…These considerable differences between the two nanotubes result in proposing hybrid carbon and boron nitride nanotubes since the earlier attempts of doping carbon nanotubes with boron and nitrogen [21] in order to overcome the drawbacks in applying the individual pure CNTs and BNNTs in novel applications. To this end, many efforts have been made to fabricate carbon and boron nitride hybrid nanotubes since 1994 [22][23][24][25][26][27][28][29]. Regarding the developments in experimental growth of hybrid nanotubes, several theoretical and experimental investigations have been carried out to explore the electromagnetic properties and stability of these hybrid nanotubes unlike the mechanical properties which are limited to elastic properties [30][31][32][33][34].…”