News Article
BNNTs grown on catalyst substrates 'overcome difficulties'
Scientists have overcome the previous difficulties faced when trying to grow BNNTs on substrates.
Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have attractive properties such as being able to withstand very high heat and being the "perfect" insulator, it has been claimed.
However, despite their potential for developing high-powered electrical devices, it is difficult to make nanotubes from boron and nitrogen, Michigan Technological University noted.
Temperatures of over 1,500 degrees Celsius are often required for assembly and impurities are often common in the resulting product, Yoke Khin Yap, an associate professor of physics at the university, explained.
"We've been stuck for more than ten years because nobody could grow them well on substrates. But now we can," he added.
"Carpets" of tiny fibres on a substrate made from iron, nickel or magnesium oxide were used, allowing BNNTs to be assembled on these catalysts.
Anything coated with this carpet could be protected from anything water-soluble and could be stain resistant.
BNNTs have the same atomic structure as the semiconductor carbon nanotubes.
