Direct Synthesis of B−C−N Single-Walled Nanotubes by Bias-Assisted Hot Filament Chemical Vapor Deposition

Abstract
Direct synthesis of large-scale ternary boron carbonitride single-walled nanotubes (BCN−SWNTs) via a bias-assisted HFCVD process was presented. The BCN−SWNTs were grown over the powdery Fe−Mo/MgO catalyst by using CH4, B2H6, and ethylenediamine vapor as the reactant gases. As high as 16 atom % nitrogen can be incorporated within the nanotube shells, with the boron content in the range of 2−4 atom %. The ternary covalent bonding nature of the BCN−SWNTs was well characterized, and the B, C, and N elemental maps were clearly imaged by energy-filtered transmission electron microscopy.