Pyrolytically grown arrays of highly aligned BxCyNz nanotubes

A pyrolysis route has been used to synthesize arrays of highly aligned BxCy Nz nanotubes in bulk. The structure and composition of the product were cha racterized by scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission el ectron microscopy, and electron energy-loss spectroscopy. The length and di ameter of the nanotubes are quite uniform in a large area of the reaction z one. The sizes of the aligned BxCyNz nanotubes from the whole reaction zone are 10-30 mum in length and 20-140 nm in diameter. The x/z ratio of BxCyNz nanotubes for most nanotubes is about 1:1. The x/y ratio of BxCyNz nanotub es is up to 0.6. Within one nanotube, the x/y ratio is usually heterogeneou s. The growth mechanism is also discussed. (C) 2001 American Institute of P hysics.