Synthesis of boron nitride nanotube films with a nanoparticle catalyst

Boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) films were synthesized by combining ball milling and thermal chemical vapor deposition (CVD) using nano-Fe3O4 as a catalyst. The as-produced BNNTs have a bamboo-like structure and have a diameter in the range of 50 similar to 200 nm with an average length of more than 40 mu m. Moreover, BNNT nanojunction structures were synthesized. The structure and morphology of the BNNTs were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM and HRTEM. The possible growth mechanism of BNNTs and BNNT nanojunction structures were proposed. Though the BNNT films were observed, out of our expectation, BNNTs with thin tube wall and small average diameter have not been achieved, and this could be mainly ascribed to the aggregation of the nanoparticle catalyst, resulting in greater catalyst particles during the process of BNNT growth. This result will provide a promising approach to obtain the desired shape of BNNTs and produce branched junctions of BNNTs. (C) 2016 Chinese Chemical Society and Institute of Materia Medica, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.