Role of nickel particles in selected growth of boron carbonitride tubular structures

Using Ni as catalyst, boron carbonitride (BCN) nanotubes/nanofibres were sy nthesized from a mixture of N-2, H-2, CH4, and B2H6 by means of plasma-assi sted hot filament chemical vapor deposition. The activated Ni catalysts exh ibit some preferred crystal orientations at different inlet B2H6 concentrat ions, such as [011] at 1.0%, [(1) over bar 11] at 1.5%, and [(1) over bar 1 3] at 2.0%, respectively. Our results imply that Ni catalytic particles pla y an important role in the formation of the stable phases of BCN nanotubes/ nanofibres with different chemical compositions. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.