Fabrication of boron carbonitride (BCN) nanotubes and giant fullerene cages
Boron carbonitride (BCN) nanotubes have been successfully prepared using NH4Cl, KBH4, and ZnBr2 as the reactants at 480 °C for 12 h by a new benzene-thermal approach in a N2 atmosphere. As its by-product, a new form of carbon regular hexagonal nanocages are observed. The samples are characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), transmission electron diffraction (TED), electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS), and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The prepared nanotubes have uniform outer diameters in the range of 150 to 500 nm and a length of up to several micrometerss. The novel carbon hexagonal nanocages have a typical size ranging from 100 nm to 1.5 µm, which could be the giant fullerene cages of [Formula: see text] (N = 17∼148). So, high fullerenes are observed for the first time. The influences of reaction temperature and ZnBr2 on products and the formation mechanism of BCN nanotubes are discussed.