Formation and atomic structures of boron nitride nanotubes with cup-stacked and Fe nanowire encapsulated structures

Abstract

Boron nitride (BN) nanotubes, nanohorns, nanocoils were synthesized by annealing Fe4N and B powders at 1000°C in nitrogen gas atmosphere. Especially, Fe-filled BN nanotubes, bamboo-type and cup-stacked type BN nanotubes were produced. Formation mechanism and nanostructures were investigated by high-resolution electron microscopy, high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy, electron diffraction, energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and molecular mechanics calculations. © 2007 Society of Nano Science and Technology.