High-Yield Synthesis of Cubic and Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanoparticles by Laser Chemical Vapor Decomposition of Borazine

Abstract

We report a new method for the synthesis of boron nitride nanostructures (nBN) using laser chemical vapor decomposition (LCVD). Borazine was used as precursor and excited with two simultaneous radiations, the fundamental and second YAG laser harmonics. If only one of the two radiations is employed, no reaction takes place. Abundant BN powder is obtained after one hour of laser radiation. The BN yield obtained with the LCVD technique is about 83% by weight. The BN material was characterized using scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, electron energy loss spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. They all indicate that the BN powder consists of a mixture of hexagonal and cubic BN nanostructures. No other BN phases or stoichiometries were found. The size of the resulting BN nanostructures is in the range of 20–100 nm and their B : N composition is 1 : 1. A simplified mechanism involving laser-excited states followed by photoinduced removal of hydrogen is proposed to understand the synthesis of BN nanopowder by LCVD of borazine.