Catalytic growth of vertically aligned neutron sensitive super(10)Boron nitride nanotubes

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 1 - 7
• Main Authors: Ahmad, Pervaiz, Khandaker, Mayeen Uddin, Amin, Yusoff Mohd, Khan, Ghulamullah, Ramay, Shahid M, Mahmood, Asif, Amin, Muhammad, Muhammad, Nawshad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.01.2016
• Subjects: Alignment; Catalysis; Catalysts; Magnesium; Nanotubes; Nitrides; Tips; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-016-3326-0

super(10)Boron nitride nanotubes ( super(10)BNNTs) are a potential neutron sensing element in a solid-state neutron detector. The aligned super(10)BNNT can be used for its potential application without any further purification. Argon-supported thermal CVD is used to achieve vertically aligned super(10)BNNT with the help of nucleation sites produced in a thin layer of magnesium-iron alloy deposited at the top of Si substrate. FESEM shows vertically aligned super(10)BNNTs with ball-like catalytic tips at top. EDX reveals magnesium (Mg) contents in the tips that refer to catalytic growth of super(10)BNNT. HR-TEM shows tubular morphology of the synthesized super(10)BNNT with lattice fringes on its outer part having an interlayer spacing of ~0.34 nm. XPS shows B 1 s and N 1 s peaks at 190.5 and 398 eV that correspond to hexagonal super(10)Boron nitride ( super(10)h-BN) nature of the synthesized super(10)BNNT, whereas the Mg kll auger peaks at ~301 and ~311 eV represents Mg contents in the sample. Raman spectrum has a peak at 1390 (cm super(-1)) that corresponds to E sub(2g) mode of vibration in super(10)h-BN.