Synthesize and Characterization of Hollow Boron-Nitride Nanocages

W S Zhang,Z D Zhang,J G Zheng,W F Li,D Y Geng

doi:10.1155/2009/264026

Abstract

The boron-nitride (BN) nanocages are synthesized by nitrogenation of amorphous boron nanoparticles at 1073 K under nitrogen and ammonia atmosphere. The BN nanocages exhibit a well-crystallized feature with nearly pentagonal or spherical shape, depending on their size. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy studies reveal that they are hollow nanocages. The growth mechanism of the BN nanocages is proposed.

Highlights

Much attention has been focused on boron-nitride (BN) nanotubes and other fullerene-like nanostructures since the discovery of carbon nanotubes
The structures of as-prepared nanoparticles and as-annealed BN nanocages are investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM)
Diffraction peaks in the XRD spectrum of the as-prepared nanoparticles (shown as Figure 1(a)) can be indexed as Ni and B2O3 phases

Summary

Introduction

Much attention has been focused on boron-nitride (BN) nanotubes and other fullerene-like nanostructures since the discovery of carbon nanotubes. The effects of catalytic metals for synthesis of BN fullerene nanomaterials have been investigated [9]. Nanocages belong to an important category of fullerene-like structures, to which particular attention should be addressed. This is because substances of hollow cages may show novel physical and chemical properties. We encapsulated the boron nanoparticles with boron nitrides [14]. We prepare BN nanocages, by means of arc-discharging in a mixture of diborane and nitrogen, followed by a subsequent annealing under a mixture of nitrogen (N2) and ammonia (NH3) atmospheres at 1073 K. The structures of as-prepared nanoparticles and as-annealed BN nanocages are investigated by means of X-ray diffraction (XRD) and high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM)

Experimental Procedures

Results and Discussion

Conclusion