Abstract
The synthesis of boron nanowires, nanotubes, and nanosheets using a thermal vapor deposition process is reported. This work confirms previous research and provides a new method capable of synthesizing boron nanomaterials. The materials were made by using various combinations of MgB2, Mg(BH4)2, MCM-41, NiB, and Fe wire. Unlike previously reported methods, a nanoparticle catalyst and a silicate substrate are not required for synthesis. Two types of boron nanowires, boron nanotubes, and boron nanosheets were made. Their morphology and chemical composition were determined through the use of scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectroscopy. These boron-based materials have potential for electronic and hydrogen storage applications.
Highlights
Carbon nanotubes and graphene have been researched extensively for the past two decades due to their remarkable electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties [1,2,3,4,5,6,7], which surpass those of a wide range of materials
Pure boron was reported to be stable in a nanotube configuration [16,17,18] and modeling of pure boron sheets has been performed [19, 20]. (Pure in this case means that the vast majority of the boron in the structure is not part of a compound.) Pure boron nanostructures could have properties unique in comparison to bulk boron phases, potentially making them useful for electronic and optical applications due to electron confinement effects similar to that in graphene and carbon nanotubes
boron nanowires (BNWs) are well known in the literature and have been shown to have useful characteristics [24,25,26] leading to applications for them in flexible electronics and field effect transistors
Summary
Carbon nanotubes and graphene have been researched extensively for the past two decades due to their remarkable electrical, thermal, and mechanical properties [1,2,3,4,5,6,7], which surpass those of a wide range of materials. For this reason, carbon nanotube/graphene analogs involving other elements have been synthesized such as boron nitride [8,9,10], titanium dioxide [11], numerous sulfides [12,13,14], and zinc oxide [15]. The synthesis of a novel boron nanostructure, boron nanosheets, is described
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