title: A Universal Wet-Chemistry Route to Metal Filling of Boron Nitride Nanotubes.
abstract: We present a facile wet-chemistry method for efficient metal filling of the hollow inner cores of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). The fillers conform to the cross-section of the tube cavity and extend in length from a few nm to hundreds of nm. The methodology is robust and is demonstrated for noble metals (Au, Pt, Pd, and Ag), transition metals (Co), and post-transition elements (In). Transmission electron microscopy and related electron spectroscopy confirm the composition and morphology of the filler nanoparticles. Up to 60% of BNNTs of a given preparation batch have some degree of metal encapsulation, and individual tubes can have up to 10% of their core volume filled during initial loading. The growth, movement, and fusing of metal nanoparticles within the BNNTs are also examined.
authors.affiliation: Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute at the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
authors.forename: Thang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.affiliation: Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute at the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
authors.forename: Aidin
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fathalizadeh
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Shevitski
authors.affiliation: Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute at the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
authors.forename: Sally
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turner
authors.forename: Shaul
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aloni
authors.affiliation: Kavli Energy NanoSciences Institute at the University of California, Berkeley and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory , Berkeley, California 94720, United States.
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zettl
keywords: Boron nitride nanotubes; metal filling; metal nanowires; wet-chemistry