title: Rebar graphene from functionalized boron nitride nanotubes.
abstract: The synthesis of rebar graphene on Cu substrates is described using functionalized boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that were annealed or subjected to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene. Characterization shows that the BNNTs partially unzip and form a reinforcing bar (rebar) network within the graphene layer that enhances the mechanical strength through covalent bonds. The rebar graphene is transferrable to other substrates without polymer assistance. The optical transmittance and conductivity of the hybrid rebar graphene film was tested, and a field effect transistor was fabricated to explore its electrical properties. This method of synthesizing 2D hybrid graphene/BN structures should enable the hybridization of various 1D nanotube and 2D layered structures with enhanced mechanical properties.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemistry, ‡Richard E. Smalley Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology, §Department of Materials Science and NanoEngineering, Rice University , 6100 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005, United States.
authors.forename: Yilun
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Peng
authors.forename: Eduardo
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Larios
authors.forename: Gunuk
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yan
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ruiz-Zepeda
authors.forename: Miguel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: José-Yacamán
authors.forename: James M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Tour
mesh_terms: D001896:Boron Compounds / Q000737:chemistry*; D005898:Glass / Q000737:chemistry; D006108:Graphite / Q000737:chemistry*; D055595:Mechanical Phenomena; D036103:Nanotechnology; D043942:Nanotubes / Q000737:chemistry*; D055620:Optical Phenomena
chemical_list: D001896:Boron Compounds; C017282:boron nitride; D006108:Graphite
keywords: BCN hybrid structure; BNNTs; CVD; STEM; free-standing; rebar graphene