In situ formation of BN nanotubes during nitriding reactions

High-yield multiwalled boron nitride (BN) nanotubes have been produced using a ball milling-annealing method. The BN nanotubes with a diameter less than 10 nm and a well-crystallized multiwalled structure were formed via an in situ nitriding reaction. The systematic investigation of the formation process at different annealing temperatures and for different times suggested that the formation of the unique multiwalled structure was attributed by a two-dimensional growth of the BN phase and a nonmetal catalytic growth.<br />