Rare-earth doped boron nitride nanotubes

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Abstract

The rare-earth element europium has been doped into the skeleton of BN nanotubes (BNNTs) up to 0.5 at.%. The doing and synthesis processes have been systematically studied. The Eu-doping greatly increases the nanotube formation yield. The successful synthesis of Eu-doped BNNTs not only facilitates the exploration of the genuine structure but also presents a fascinating potential in creating new physical properties of BNNTs for various practical applications.

Introduction

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have attracted substantial attention as a complement to carbon nanotubes (CNTs) due to their broad and stable band-gap [1]. Although a quasi-one-dimension heterostructure was predicted and constructed [2] based on the combination of semiconductive BNNTs and semimetal CNTs, practical applications associated with the BNNT's doped by rare-earth elements are rarely reported so far. Pokropivnyi suggested in 2002 [3] that “the BNNTs could be transformed into n- or p-type semiconductors by ionic doping”, which might enable property control to meet different application requirements. This work attempts to explore the possibility of doping rare-earth elements in BNNTs. We are concerned with where the doping atoms go in BNNTs: incorporating into the skeleton (tube wall) or filling into the tube hollow centre? What new optical phenomena could be observed? To answer these questions, a rare-earth element, europium, was first chosen as a representative for nanotube doping.

Section snippets

Experimental

The ball-milling and annealing process was used to fabricate Eu-doped BNNTs. The starting materials were amorphous elemental boron powder mixed with nominated 1.0 at.% Eu. The mixture was milled in a planetary ball mill with a stainless steel chamber and balls at a rotation speed of 300 rpm for 50 h in NH3 atmosphere (300 kPa). In this process, small amount of metal iron and a trace of chromium (from both the milling balls and chamber) were mixed into the milled B and Eu powders, and they will

Results and discussion

Fig. 1 shows the XRD patterns of the milled B samples containing 1.0 at.% Eu synthesized at different temperatures. The XRD patterns suggest the sample annealed at 1000 °C consists of five phases: h-BN, Fe, FeB, EuB6 and FeN0.056. The diffraction peak of BN (0 0 2) basal planes is broad, indicating the existence of possible small-diameter BNNTs or nanosized BN particles. Fe can react with B to form FeB phase during the annealing, which may contribute to the formation of bamboo-like BNNTs as

Conclusions

Eu-doping enhances high-yield formation of BNNTs. The average Eu content doped into BNNTs is 0.5 at.%. Successful entrance of Eu atoms into the BNNTs structure is evidenced by EFTEM mapping and EDS analysis. CL imaging and spectra indicate a strong emission centred at 490 nm, which could be employed as a nanovisible light source.

Acknowledgements

Mr. Hua Chen acknowledges ANU graduate school scholarship and supplementary scholarship of research school of physical sciences and engineering. The support of discovery Projects from the Australian Research Council is gratefully acknowledged.

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