Platelet boron nitride nanowires

A novel platelet boron nitride (BN) nanowire was synthesized through a floating catalyst enhanced thermal reaction method by using nickelocene as a catalyst precursor. The nanowires are composed of series-wound cup-like single crystalline hexagonal-BN sections with ( 0002) planes perpendicular to the nanowire axis direction. A low turn-on electric field of 4.85 V/mu m and sound field emission stability were achieved for the BN nanowires. The excellent field emission performance can be attributed to the unique structural characteristics of the platelet BN nanowires.