Phonon spectrum boron nitrideof single-wallednanotubes

Based on a force constant model, we investigated the phonon spectrum and then specific heat of single-walled boron nitride nanotubes. The results show that the frequencies of Raman and infrared active modes decrease with increasing diameter in the low frequency, which is consistent with the results calculated by density functional theory. The fitting formulae for diameter and chirality dependence of specific heat at 300K are given.     

Adsorption of SO2 molecule on doped (8, 0) boron nitride nanotube: A first-principles study

Adsorptions of SO₂ on Al-, Ca-, Co-, Cu-, Ge-, Ni-, and Si-doped (8, 0) boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) have been studied using first-principles approach based on density functional theory in order to exploit their potential applications as SO₂ gas sensors. The electronic properties of the BNNT-molecule adsorption adducts are strongly dependent on the dopants. The most stable adsorption geometries, adsorption energies, charge transfers, and density of states of these systems are thoroughly discussed. This work reveals that the sensitivity of (8, 0) BNNT based chemical gas sensors for SO₂ can be drastically improved by introducing appropriate dopant. Si is found to be the best choice among all the dopants.     

Wear behavior of sintered hexagonal boron nitride under atmosphere and water vapor ambiences

Hexagonal boron nitride was pressed and sintered at 2000 °C with CaB₂O₄ as an additive to promote its crystallization, which was used as an abradable sealing coating for aircraft turbo engines. Microstructures, phase compositions and tribological properties of the sintered hBN were tested, and the results show that CaB₂O₄ can effectively promote crystal growth of hBN at 2000 °C for 5 h in N₂ ambience. The friction coefficients of the sintered hBN under atmosphere ambience increase as the temperature increasing from room temperature to 400 °C, and then decrease with further increasing of temperature up to 800 °C. Under water vapor ambience, friction coefficients of the sintered hBN are much lower than those under atmosphere ambience, which are attributed to a lamella-slip of hBN and the solid lubrication effect of H₃BO₃.     

Magnetic-like field inducing negative Dirac mass in graphene on hexagonal boron nitride

The tight-binding electrons in graphene grown on top of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) substrate are studied. The two types of surfaces on the h-BN substrate give rise to Dirac fermions having positive and negative masses. The positive and negative masses of the Dirac fermions lead to the gapped graphene to behave as a “pseudo” ferromagnet. A very large (pseudo) tunneling magnetoresistance is predicted when the Fermi level approaches the gap region. The energy gap due to the breaking of sublattice symmetry in graphene on h-BN substrate is analogous to magnetic-induced energy gap on surface of topological insulators. We point out that positive and negative masses may correspond to signs of magnetic-like field perpendicular to graphene sheet acting on pseudo magnetic dipole moment of electrons, leading to pseudo-Larmor precession and Stern–Gerlach magnetic force.     

Synthesis of boron nitride nanostructures from catalyst of iron compounds via thermal chemical vapor deposition technique

For the first time, patterned growth of boron nitride nanostructures (BNNs) is achieved by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) technique at 1150 °C using a mixture of FeS/Fe₂O₃ catalyst supported in alumina nanostructured, boron amorphous and ammonia (NH₃) as reagent gas. This innovative catalyst was synthesized in our laboratory and systematically characterized. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). The X-ray diffraction profile of the synthesized catalyst indicates the coexistence of three different crystal structures showing the presence of a cubic structure of iron oxide and iron sulfide besides the gamma alumina (γ) phase. The results show that boron nitride bamboo-like nanotubes (BNNTs) and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets were successfully synthesized. Furthermore, the important contribution of this work is the manufacture of BNNs from FeS/Fe₂O₃ mixture.     

Effect of triangle vacancy on thermal transport in boron nitride nanoribbons

Recently, triangle vacancy in hexagonal boron nitride is observed experimentally. Using nonequilibrium Green’s function method, we investigate thermal transport properties of boron nitride nanoribbons (BNNRs) with a triangle vacancy. The effect of triangle vacancy on the phonon transmission of zigzag-edged BNNRs (Z-BNNRs) is different from that of armchair-edged BNNRs (A-BNNRs). The triangle vacancy induces antiresonant dips in the spectrum of Z-BNNRs. Moreover, the boron-terminated triangle vacancy causes antiresonant zero-transmission dip and the number of the zero-transmission dip increases with the geometrical size of triangle vacancy. For the A-BNNRs with triangle vacancy, except some antiresonant dips, a resonant peak is found in the transmission. The antiresonant and resonant phenomena are explained by analyzing local density of states and local thermal currents. Although the antiresonant dip and the resonant peak are both originated from quasibound states, their distributions of local thermal currents are distinct, which leads to the transport discrepancy. In addition, the thermal conductance of BNNRs decreases linearly with increasing the vacancy size.     

Van der Waals heterostructure of phosphorene and hexagonal boron nitride: First-principles modeling

We have studied the structural and electronic properties of a hybrid hexagonal boron nitride with phosphorene nanocomposite using ab initio density functional calculations. It is found that the interaction between the hexagonal boron nitride and phosphorene is dominated by the weak van der Waals interaction, with their own intrinsic electronic properties preserved. Furthermore, the band gap of the nanocomposite is dependent on the interfacial distance. Our results could shed light on the design of new devices based on van der Waals heterostructure.     

Charge distribution of a potassium-doped combined system of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride

By using first-principles density functional theory, we investigate the charge distribution of a potassium-doped layered combined system of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride. Two configurations of potassium-doped hexagonal boron nitride layers on graphenes and the reverse geometry of graphenes on hexagonal boron nitride layers are considered. We find that the charge distribution exhibits different features in these two situations. In the former case, the outmost hexagonal boron nitride layer cannot screen the external charges offered by potassium atom completely and most of the transferred charges reside on the two bounding layers. In contrary, the outmost graphene layer near the potassium atom can accept almost all of the transferred charges and only a few of them stay at interior layers in the latter case. A more amazing result is that the characteristics of charge transfer are independent of the number of hexagonal boron nitride layers and graphenes.     

Electronic transport properties of an (8,0) carbon/boron nitride nanotube heterojunction

The structure of a heterojunction made up of an (8, 0) carbon nanotube and an (8, 0) boron nitride nanotube is achieved through geometry optimization implemented in the CASTEP package. Based on the optimized geometry, the model of the heterojunction is established. Its transport properties are investigated by combining the nonequilibrium Green's function with density functional theory. Results show that both the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital and the highest occupied molecular orbital mainly locate on the carbon nanotube section. In the current--voltage characteristic of the heterojunction, a rectification feature is revealed.     

基于二维六方氮化硼材料的光子晶体非对称传输异质结构设计

二维六方氮化硼(hexagonal boron nitride,hBN)材料在产生光学稳定的超亮量子单光子光源领域有着潜在应用,有望用于量子计算和信息处理平台,已成为研究热点.而光学非对称传输设备是集成量子计算芯片中的关键器件之一.本文从理论上提出了一种基于hBN材料光子晶体异质结构的纳米光子学非对称光传输器件.运用平...     

First-principles study of transition metal linear monoatomic chains adsorption on boron nitride nanotube

Structural, electronic and magnetic properties of six 3d transition metals (TM=V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co and Ni) linear monoatomic chains adsorbed on the (5,5) boron nitride nanotube (BNNT) at five different sites have been investigated by first-principle calculations. The results indicate all TM chains can be spontaneously adsorbed on the outer surface of the BNNT. The stable adsorption sites are different for different TM chains. All TM chains can be adsorbed on the N site, while the adsorption on the Z site is unstable. The dispersion character occurs in energy band curves of stable TM/BNNT systems and bring about the band gap disappearance in comparison with that of pure (5,5) BNNT. Interestingly, the TM/BNNT systems with nearly half-filled 3d metals V and Cr at H and N sites, as well as Mn at A site show a half-metal character and are usable in spintronics devices. The different electronic properties of BNNT can also be achieved through decorations of the same TM chain on different sites. The TM chain adsorbed BNNT systems exhibit high stability, promising electronic properties and high magnetic moments, which may be useful for a wide variety of next-generation nanoelectronic device components.     

硼原子掺杂对碳纳米管吸附Ne原子影响的第一性原理计算

采用基于第一性原理的密度泛函理论（DFT）和局域密度近似（LDA）方法,优化计算得到碳纳米管（CNT）,硼原子取代碳原子及其吸附氖原子前后系统的几何结构,能量,电子能带和态密度。结果显示,碳纳米管的能带结构与石墨的层状几何结构相似,能量的变化只在kz=0和kz=0.5平面之间沿着c轴方向出现。B原子取代C原子使价带和导带分别分裂为两个和三个能带。对Ne原子的吸附使价带能量沿着c轴方向升高并导致Fermi面附近的态密度下降。Ne原子的吸附在谷位H最稳定,顶位A其次。C-C间σ键的弯曲使Ne原子吸附在桥位b1比桥位b2处更为稳定。Ne原子在管外的吸附均为放热过程,而管内则为吸热过程。结构分析表明Ne原子对C原子有排斥作用,对B原子却具有吸引作用。B原子取代C原子的位置略凸出于CNT的管壁之外,使Ne原子的吸附能增加。     

硼原子掺杂对碳纳米管吸附Ne原子影响的第一性原理计算

采用基于第一性原理的密度泛函理论（DFT）和局域密度近似（LDA）方法,优化计算得到碳纳米管（CNT）,硼原子取代碳原子及其吸附氖原子前后系统的几何结构,能量,电子能带和态密度。结果显示,碳纳米管的能带结构与石墨的层状几何结构相似,能量的变化只在kz=0和kz=0.5平面之间沿着c轴方向出现。B原子取代C原子使价带和导带分别分裂为两个和三个能带。对Ne原子的吸附使价带能量沿着c轴方向升高并导致Fermi面附近的态密度下降。Ne原子的吸附在谷位H最稳定,顶位A其次。C-C间σ键的弯曲使Ne原子吸附在桥位b1比桥位b2处更为稳定。Ne原子在管外的吸附均为放热过程,而管内则为吸热过程。结构分析表明Ne原子对C原子有排斥作用,对B原子却具有吸引作用。B原子取代C原子的位置略凸出于CNT的管壁之外,使Ne原子的吸附能增加。     

硼原子掺杂对碳纳米管吸附Ne原子影响的第一性原理计算

采用基于第一性原理的密度泛函理论(DFT)和局域密度近似(LDA)方法,优化计算得到碳纳米管(CNT),硼原子取代碳原子及其吸附氖原子前后系统的几何结构,能量,电子能带和态密度.结果显示,碳纳米管的能带结构与石墨的层状几何结构相似,能量的变化只在kz=0和kz=0.5平面之间沿着c轴方向出现.B原子取代C原子使价带和导带分别分裂为两个和三个能带.对Ne原子的吸附使价带能量沿着c轴方向升高并导致Fermi面附近的态密度下降.Ne原子的吸附在谷位H最稳定,顶位A其次.C-C间σ键的弯曲使Ne原子吸附在桥位b1比桥位b2处更为稳定.Ne原子在管外的吸附均为放热过程,而管内则为吸热过程.结构分析表明Ne原子对C原子有排斥作用,对B原子却具有吸引作用.B原子取代C原子的位置略凸出于CNT的管壁之外,使Ne原子的吸附能增加.     

Electromigration with enhanced green emission in the titanium dioxide nanotube/graphene composite

One of the most studied photoluminescence emission peaks of anatase titanium dioxide (TiO₂) is green, located at about 520 nm, which is assigned to the radiative recombination between a mobile electron in the conduction band and oxygen vacancy defect as a trapped hole in the bandgap. Composite materials of TiO₂ with graphene are normally shown by the gradual quenching of photoluminescence intensity as a result of carrier lifetime extension, which is important to enhance photocatalytic activity. Herein we report an observation of the intensity enhancement of the green PL emission in a composite TiO₂ nanotube (TNT) and graphene produced through facile hydrothermal synthesis. The heterojunction formation of graphene and TNT makes the excited photoelectrons easy to diffuse from TNT to graphene. Hence, the recombination rate of mobile electrons in graphene and trapped holes located on the nanotube surface is enhanced due to the high mobility of electrons in graphene.     

Increasing the B/N ratio in boron nitride nanoribbons,a possible approach to dilute magnetic semiconductors

Density functional theory (DFT) employing the local spin density approximation and including correlation functionals is used to show that increasing the boron content relative to the nitrogen content in boron nitride nanoribbons can significantly reduce the band gap making the ribbons semiconducting. Armchair ribbons, but not zigzag ribbons, having excess borons are predicted to have a more stable optimized triplet structure than the optimized singlet structure. The triplet structure is predicted to have a higher density of states at the top of the valence band near Fermi level for the spin down state indicating it could be a ferromagnetic semiconductor. The results suggest a possible new approach to developing ferromagnetic semiconductors.     

First-principles study of two new boron nitride structures: C12-BN and O16-BN

Based on the first-principles method,we predict two new stable BN allotropes:C12-BN and O16-BN,which belong to cubic and orthorhombic crystal systems,respectively.It is confirmed that both the phases are thermally and dynamically stable.The results of molecular dynamics simulations suggest that both the BN phases are highly stable even at high temperatures of 1000 K.In the case of mechanical properties,C12-BN has a bulk modulus of 359 GPa and a hardness of 43.4 GPa,making it a novel superhard material with potential technological and industrial applications.Electronic band calculations reveal that both C12-BN and O16-BN are insulators with direct band gaps of 3.02 e V and 3.54 e V,respectively.The XRD spectra of C12-BN and O16-BN are also simulated to provide more information for possible experimental observation.Our findings enrich the BN allotrope family and are expected to stimulate further experimental interest.     

立方氮化硼薄膜沉积过程的相变研究

从能量和结构两个角度分析了BN四种相的转变过程，以及杂质和缺陷对立方氮化硼(c-BN)薄膜制备的影响.研究了从六角氮化硼(h-BN)到c-BN转变的一个可能的过程，即h-BN→菱形氮化硼(r-BN)→c-BN过程.对纯的h-BN到r-BN的转变需要克服一个很高的能量势垒，在实验室条件下很难能够提供能量来越过这个势垒.而从r-BN到c-BN的转变只需要克服一个很低的能量势垒.这个能量势垒要低于从h-BN到纤锌矿氮化硼(w-BN)转变所需要克服的能量势垒.c-BN薄膜的制备过程中，薄膜在高能粒子轰击下，会产生大量的缺陷，这些缺陷对立方相的形成起到了重要的作用，缺陷和杂质的存在大大降低了从h-BN到r-BN转变的能量势垒.根据这个理论模型，在两步法制备c-BN薄膜的基础上，调整实验参数，形成三步法制备高质量c-BN薄膜.主要研究了三步法中第一步的时间和衬底负偏压对c-BN薄膜制备的影响，找到合适的沉积时间和衬底负偏压分别为5min和-180V.采用三步法制备薄膜，可以重复得到高立方相体积分数(立方相体积分数超过80%)的BN薄膜，并且实验重复性达到70%以上. 关键词： 立方氮化硼 能量势垒 缺陷 衬底偏压