Formation and structure of Ag, Ge and SiC nanoparticles encapsulated in boron nitride and carbon nanocapsules

Abstract

Abstract Boron nitride nanocapsules with silver nanoparticles and carbon nanocage structures with Ge and SiC nanoparticles were produced by the new chemical solution process and hybrid arc-discharge method. High-resolution electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction showed the formation of silver and silver oxide nanoparticles encapsulated in boron nitride nanocages, which were synthesized from mixtures of boric acid, urea and silver nitrate by reduction at 300–700°C in hydrogen gas. Ge and SiC nanoparticles and nanowires encapsulated in carbon nanocapsules and nanotubes were also produced by direct current and radio frequency hybrid arc-discharge of C, Ge and Si elements. The present work indicates that the various boron nitride and carbon nanocage structures with electronic conductors, superhard materials, semiconductor nanoparticles and nanowires can be synthesized by the new chemical process and hybrid arc-discharge method, and the chemical synthesis of the boron nitride nanocapsules from the organic solution materials is a useful fabrication method for the mass production of low-dimensional nanocage structures at low temperatures compared to the ordinary arc-discharge method.