Synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes by Argon supported Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition

Thermal Chemical Vapor Deposition technique is modified with the use of Argon gas flow inside the chamber as an alternative for vacuum and orientation of one end closed quartz test tube. The use of Argon gas not only simplified the experimental set up, but also made it similar to 18 % cost effective compared to the conventional set up. Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy micrographs show straight and long BNNTs along with some cotton like morphologies. Transmission electron microscopy revealed bamboo like structure inside the tube and similar to 0.34 nm interlayer spacing for highly crystalline nature of boron nitride nanotubes. X-ray photon spectroscopy shows B Is peak at 191.08 eV and N is peak at 398.78 eV that represents h-BN. Whereas, Raman spectrum indicates a major peak at similar to 1379.60 (cm(-1)) that correspond to E-2g mode of h-BN. (C) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.