Abstract
A modification in the conventional arc-discharge method for synthesis of nanotubes is presented. By injecting pure nitrogen gas directly into the plasma we have greatly increased the amount of boron nitride nanotubes produced. Isolated nanotubes and bundles were characterized by TEM. The vast majority of the nanotubes were double-walled with outer diameter around 3 nm. The predominance of double-walled BN nanotubes is seen as a direct result of the distribution of the number of graphitic BN layers for the nanococoons, second major product of the synthesis. Detailed HRTEM examination of the ends of BN nanotubes indicates continuity between the graphitic BN layers that coat boron nanoparticles, that is nanococoon, and the nanotube. At the other end of the nanotubes a flat angular cap was observed. HRTEM images of nanotube ends give support to a root-based growth mechanism.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
A. Rubio J. L. Corkill and M. L. Cohen Phys. Rev. B 49 (1994) 5081.
N. G. Chopra R. J. Luyken K. Cherrey V. H. Crespi M. Cohen S. G. Louie and A. Zettl Science 269 (1995) 966.
Z. Weng-Sieh K. Cherrey N. G. Chopra X. Blase Y. Miyamato A. Rubio M. L. Cohen S. G. Louie and A. Zettl Phys. Rev. B 51 (1995) 11229.
A. Loiseau F. Willaime N. Demoncy G. Hug and H. Pascard Phys. Rev. Lett. 76 (1996) 4737.
N. G. Chopra and A. Zettl Solid State Commun. 105 (1995) 297.
J. Cumings and A. Zettl Chem. Phys. Lett. 316 (2000) 211.
R. S. Lee J. Gavillet M. Lamy de la Chapelle A. Loiseau J.-L. Cochon D. Pigache J. Thibault and F. Willaime Phys. Rev. B 64 (2001) 121405–R.
D. Goldberg Y. Bando L. Bourgeois K. Kurashima and T. Sato Appl. Phys. Lett. 77 (2000) 13.
R. Ma Y. Bando and T. Sato Adv. Mater. 14 (2002) 366.
X. Blase A. Rubio S. G. Louie and M. L. Cohen Europhys. Lett. 28 (1994) 335.
S. Iijima and T. Ichihashi Nature 363 (1993) 603.
S. Iijima P. M. Ajayan and T. Ichihashi Phys. Rev. Lett. 69 (1992) 3100.
P. M. Ajayan J. M. Lambert P. Bernier L. Barbedette C. Colliex and J. M. Planeix Chem. Phys. Lett. 215 (1993) 509.
Y. H. Lee S. G. Kim and D. Tomanek Phys. Rev. Lett. 78 (1997) 2393.
A. Thess R. Lee P. Nikolaev H. Dai P. Petit J. Robert C. Xu Y. H. Lee S. G. Kim A. G. Rinzler D. T. Colbert G. E. Scuseria D. Tomanek J. E. Fisher and E. Smalley Science 273 (1996) 483.
A. Maiti C. J. Brabec and J. Bernholc Phys. Rev. B 55 (1997) R6097.
Y. Li W. Kim Y. Zhang M. Rolandi D. Wang and H. Dai J. Phys. Chem. B 105 (2001) 11424.
Y. Zhang Y. Li W. Kim D. Wang and H. Dai Appl. Phys. A 74 (2002) 325.
A. Loiseau F. Willaime N. Demoncy and O. Stephan, in Proceedings of The 6th NIRIM International Symposium on Advanced Materials (ISAM'99), Tsukuba, Japan, 1999, edited by Y. Bando (National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials) p. 45.
C. M. Goringe, in Proceedings of The 6th NIRIM International Symposium on Advanced Materials (ISAM'99), Tsukuba, Japan, 1999, edited by Y. Bando (National Institute for Research in Inorganic Materials) p. 95.
X. Blase A. de Vita J.-C. Charlier and R. Car Phys. Rev. Lett. 80 (1998) 1666.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Altoe, M.V.P., Sprunck, J.P., Gabriel, JC.P. et al. Nanococoon seeds for BN nanotube growth. Journal of Materials Science 38, 4805–4810 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSC.0000004399.94881.57
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/B:JMSC.0000004399.94881.57