BORON-NITRIDE NANOTUBES WITH REDUCED NUMBERS OF LAYERS SYNTHESIZED BYARC-DISCHARGE

A new route to the successful are-discharge synthesis of pure boron ni tride (BN) nanotubes is presented. The carbon-free plasma is establish ed between HfB2 electrodes in a nitrogen atmosphere. This technique le ads to the formation of BN nanotubes with very few layers including si ngle- and double-layer tubes. Electron-energy-loss spectroscopy yields a B:N ratio of approximately 1. Most tube ends are closed by Aat laye rs perpendicular to the tube axis. A closure by a triangular facet, re sulting from three 120 degrees disclinations, is proposed to account f or this specific shape.