Preparation of boron nanowires using AuPd nanoparticles as catalyst and their field emission behavios

Abstract

Large-area boron nanowires are successfully prepared by chemical vapor deposition using different compositions of AuPd bimetal nanoparticles as catalysts. The lengths of the boron nanowires are in a range of 5–10 μm and their average diameter is 50 nm. Structural and morphology analysis indicate that these nanowires are single crystalline with a β-rhombohedral structure. The diameters of nanowires gradually decrease with the increase of the concentration of Pd in bimetal nanoparticles. Field emission results show that the field emission properties of boron nanowires can be tuned through using different diameters and densities of boron nanowires.