Catalytic growth of vertically aligned neutron sensitive <SUP>10</SUP>Boron nitride nanotubes

(10)Boron nitride nanotubes ((BNNTs)-B-10) are a potential neutron sensing element in a solid-state neutron detector. The aligned (BNNT)-B-10 can be used for its potential application without any further purification. Argon-supported thermal CVD is used to achieve vertically aligned (BNNT)-B-10 with the help of nucleation sites produced in a thin layer of magnesium-iron alloy deposited at the top of Si substrate. FESEM shows vertically aligned (BNNTs)-B-10 with ball-like catalytic tips at top. EDX reveals magnesium (Mg) contents in the tips that refer to catalytic growth of (BNNT)-B-10. HRTEM shows tubular morphology of the synthesized (BNNT)-B-10 with lattice fringes on its outer part having an interlayer spacing of similar to 0.34 nm. XPS shows B 1 s and N 1 s peaks at 190.5 and 398 eV that correspond to hexagonal (10)Boron nitride ((10)h-BN) nature of the synthesized (BNNT)-B-10, whereas the Mg kll auger peaks at similar to 301 and similar to 311 eV represents Mg contents in the sample. Raman spectrum has a peak at 1390 (cm(-1)) that corresponds to E-2g mode of vibration in (10)h-BN.