High-Yield Synthesis of Stoichiometric Boron Nitride Nanostructures

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 2009 · Journal of Nanomaterials

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1155/2009/429360· OSTI ID:1198245

Nocua, José E. ^[1]; Piazza, Fabrice ^[2]; Weiner, Brad R. ^[3]; Morell, Gerardo ^[1]

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1. Institute for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA, Department of Physics, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR 00931, USA
2. Pontificia Universidad Católica Madre y Maestra, P.O. Box 2748, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic
3. Institute for Functional Nanomaterials, University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, PR 00931, USA, Department of Chemistry, University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR 00931, USA

Boron nitride (BN) nanostructures are structural analogues of carbon nanostructures but have completely different bonding character and structural defects. They are chemically inert, electrically insulating, and potentially important in mechanical applications that include the strengthening of light structural materials. These applications require the reliable production of bulk amounts of pure BN nanostructures in order to be able to reinforce large quantities of structural materials, hence the need for the development of high-yield synthesis methods of pure BN nanostructures. Using borazine ( ${\text{B}}_3{\text{N}}_3{\text{H}}_6$ ) as chemical precursor and the hot-filament chemical vapor deposition (HFCVD) technique, pure BN nanostructures with cross-sectional sizes ranging between 20 and 50 nm were obtained, including nanoparticles and nanofibers. Their crystalline structure was characterized by (XRD), their morphology and nanostructure was examined by (SEM) and (TEM), while their chemical composition was studied by (EDS), (FTIR), (EELS), and (XPS). Taken altogether, the results indicate that all the material obtained is stoichiometric nanostructured BN with hexagonal and rhombohedral crystalline structure.

• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE
• Grant/Contract Number: NNX07AO30A
• OSTI ID: 1198245
• Journal Information: Journal of Nanomaterials, Journal Name: Journal of Nanomaterials Vol. 2009; ISSN 1687-4110
• Publisher: Hindawi Publishing Corporation
• Country of Publication: Egypt
• Language: English