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.