Synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes, bamboos and nanowires

Boron nitride nanotubes and nanowires in high purity and large quantity have been produced using an improved ball-milling and annealing method. Boron powder was first ball milled to produce nanosized boron particles with a metastable structure. The ball-milled sample was ultrasonicated in ethanol to break up large aggregates formed during high-energy ball milling. Isothermal annealing under controlled conditions produced nanotubes in two different structures (multi-walled cylindrical and bamboo nanotubes), as well as nanowires. The formation mechanisms of various nanostructures are discussed.