Synthesis of Boron Nitride Nanotubes by Self‐Propagation High‐Temperature Synthesis and Annealing Method

Jilin Wang,Laiping Zhang,Zhanhui Zhang,Yunle Gu,Guowei Zhao

doi:10.1155/2010/540456

Abstract

High‐quality boron nitride nanotubes were synthesized by annealing porous precursor in flowing NH3 gas at 1150°C. The porous precursor B18Ca2(MgO)9 was produced by self‐propagation high‐temperature synthesis (SHS) method using Mg, B2O3, and CaB6 as the starting materials, which played an important role in synthesis of BN nanotubes in large quantities. Samples were characterized by SEM, TEM, EDX, HRTEM, X‐ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The as‐synthesized BN nanotubes have an average diameter of about 150 nm with a wall/diameter ratio of 2/3. Mean length of the BN nanotubes was more than 10 μm. The effects of temperature, time, and the possible mechanism of the growth of the BN nanotubes were also discussed.

Highlights

Boron nitride (BN) nanotubes have a similar structure as carbon nanotubes (CNTs)
Samples were characterized by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX), high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), Raman, and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy
The porous precursor can be readily produced by self-propagation high-temperature synthesis (SHS), which plays an important role in synthesis of Journal of Nanomaterials kept for 6 h in an ammonia flowing gas at 0.3–0.9 L/min in the center of a horizontal tubular furnace at a normal pressure

Summary

Introduction

Boron nitride (BN) nanotubes have a similar structure as carbon nanotubes (CNTs) They exhibit some attracting properties, including a stable insulator, a superresistance to oxidation at high temperatures, an excellent thermal conductivity, uniform electronic properties, interesting piezoelectricity, and optical properties [1]. Various synthetic methods have been used to grow BN nanotubes. It could be classified into two categories, the high-temperature (above 2400◦C) method and the low-temperature (ranging from 400 to 1700◦C) method [6]. The porous precursor can be readily produced by self-propagation high-temperature synthesis (SHS), which plays an important role in synthesis of Journal of Nanomaterials kept for 6 h in an ammonia flowing gas at 0.3–0.9 L/min in the center of a horizontal tubular furnace at a normal pressure. The effects of temperature, time, and possible mechanism of the growth of the BN nanotubes were discussed

Experimental

Results and Discussion

Conclusions