Synthesis of Boron Nitride Microtubes and Formation of Boron Nitride Nanosheets

Boron nitride microtubes are synthesized in a dual zone quartz tube furnace at 1200 degrees C with ammonia as a reaction atmosphere. Field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM) results show a unique cone-like morphology of the tubes with larger internal space and thin walls structure. The diameters of the tubes were found to be in the range of 1 to similar to 2 mu m with the walls thickness estimated to be from 10 to 100nm. XPS survey shows N 1s and B 1s peaks at 398.7 and 191eV, respectively, that represent h-BN in the sample. Raman spectroscopy indicates a high-intensity peak at 1372.53 (cm(-1)) that corresponds to the E-2g mode of h-BN. Along with the novel tubular morphology of boron nitride microtubes, the present work also explains a mechanism for the formation of boron nitride nanosheets (from boron nitride microtubes) found in the FE-SEM results of the current sample.