Pure boron nitride nanowires produced from boron triiodide

Abstract

A thick layer of pure boron nitride (BN) nanowires with a uniform diameter of 20 nm wassynthesized for the first time using a CVD process with a new precursor of boron triiodide(BI3). Transmission electron microscopy revealed a nanocrystalline structure in the BNnanowires and the absence of any catalyst particle. Some BN nanowires self-assembled intothick threads up to several hundred micrometres long on top of the nanowire layer. Thenitriding reactions and lack of catalyst suggest new formation mechanisms of the BNnanowires.