Chitosan‐Templated Synthesis of Few‐Layers Boron Nitride and its Unforeseen Activity as a Fenton Catalyst

A novel procedure for the preparation of few‐layers boron nitride (BN), either as films or as suspended BN platelets, is presented, based on the pyrolysis of chitosan, which serves both as a matrix to embed ammonium borate and as a template for BN synthesis. The resulting BN samples are characterized by XRD, Raman and X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and by TEM and AFM imaging. The samples exhibit deep UV emission, which is characteristic of high quality BN. This template synthesis and the easy exfoliation of BN platelets facilitate the use of BN as an extremely high‐efficiency Fenton catalyst for the generation of highly aggressive hydroxyl radicals in water.     

(BN)n富勒烯和单层BN纳米管的图形理论方法研究

应用图形理论方法对(BN)12等富勒烯和单层BN纳米管的能级分布及其稳定性进行研究,发现(BN)n比同构型的(C2)n稳定,且与用DFT方法计算的结果一致.计算结果表明,采用图形理论方法是一种很有意义的解释和预测BN纳米材料的结构和性质的定性研究方法.     

氮化硼薄膜内应力的红外光谱研究

用射频(RF)磁控溅射制备了立方氮化硼(c-BN)薄膜。FTIR光谱和电子衍射实验表明:该薄膜是纯的,其结晶度很高。FTIR光谱研究指出,基板负偏压是c-BN相形成的重要因素,但也由此产生了c-BN薄膜的应力,且负偏压越高,产生的应力越大。比较透射谱和反射谱的结果,c-BN薄膜表面层的应力小于内部的。按照c-BN形成的压力模型,表面应力小到一定程度可能影响c-BN的继续生长。一个特制的分层结构BN薄膜保留了由于应力造成的c-BN的裂纹,这个裂纹分布在一些同心圆上,中心是缺陷或杂质,同心圆之间有明显的分界线,把c-BN表层分割成许多应力区。     

BN-doped fullerenes: an NICS characterization

Heterofullerenes C(58)(BN), C(54)(BN)(3), C(48)(BN)(6), and C(12)(BN)(24) and their hexaanions as well as the C(58)(BN) dimer have been investigated by ab initio calculations. On the basis of the computed nucleus independent chemical shifts (NICS) at the cage center and also at the center of individual rings, BN-doped fullerenes C(58)(BN), C(54)(BN)(3), and C(48)(BN)(6) are slightly more aromatic than C(60), whereas the corresponding hexaanions are significantly less aromatic than C(60)(6)(-). The predicted NICS values may be useful for the identification of the heterofullerenes through their endohedral (3)He NMR chemical shifts. Compared to C(60), the dimerization of C(58)(BN) is calculated to be more exothermic by 16 kcal/mol.     

Thermal conductivity epoxy resin composites filled with boron nitride

Boron nitride (BN) micro particles modified by silane coupling agent, γ‐aminopropyl triethoxy silane (KH550), are employed to prepare BN/epoxy resin (EP) thermal conductivity composites. The thermal conductivity coefficient of the composites with 60% mass fraction of modified BN is 1.052 W/mK, five times higher than that of native EP (0.202 W/mK). The mechanical properties of the composites are optimal with 10 wt% BN. The thermal decomposition temperature, dielectric constant, and dielectric loss increase with the addition of BN. For a given BN loading, the surface modification of BN by KH550 exhibits a positive effect on the thermal conductivity and mechanical properties of the BN/EP composites. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Hydrogenation of fragment cations produced by femtosecond laser ablation of boron nitride

Cations (positive ions) produced by laser ablation of boron nitride (BN) have been mass analyzed and the size-dependent hydrogenation reactivity is revealed for the first time. The main product cations determined by femtosecond laser ablation (fsLA) were a series of B(BN)(n)(+), with much lesser production of B(2)(BN)(k)(+) and N(BN)(m)O(+) series cations. Least-squares fitting of the relative yields of hydrogenated cations indicates that the yield of B(BN)(n)H(+) almost diminishes for n ≥ 5 and that of B(BN)(n)H(2)(+) increases as n increases. Based on the different n-dependence and electronic structures of B(BN)(n) and B(BN)(n)(+), B(BN)(n) is likely to be the precursor of B(BN)(n)H(+), and B(BN)(n)(+) that of B(BN)(n)H(2)(+). In contrast to fsLA, the production of H(+) by nanosecond laser ablation is not observed and the production of various cationic species makes it difficult to identify either the fragment species or their hydrogenated products. This observation highlights the significant efficiency of fsLA in producing H(+) (and presumably H) from the surface adsorbates.     

Nucleation of Boron-Nitrogen on Transition Metal Surface: A First-Principles Investigation

Boron nitrogen (BN) monolayer has attracted considerable attention because of their successful incorporation with graphene based nanodevices. However, many important aspects of the growth mechanisms are still not well explored. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we found that Cu(111) surface is more suitable to be used as a substrate to grow BN monolayer compared with Ni(111) surface. Moreover, we explored that one-dimensional (1D) BN chain configuration is dominant to the two-dimensional (2D) BN ring formation from one pair to five BN pairs deposited on Cu(111) surface. Energetically stable structure transformation of BN monolayer from 1D BN chain to 2D BN ring occurs when the number of pairs is n>5. It is suggested that, as the number of BN pairs increases the energetically stable structures achieve.     

Comparative study of hydrogen adsorption on carbon and BN nanotubes

The physisorption and chemisorption of hydrogen in BN nanotubes, investigated by density functional theory (DFT), were compared with carbon nanotubes. The physisorption of H2 on BN nanotubes is less favorable energetically than on carbon nanotubes; BN nanotubes cannot adsorb hydrogen molecules effectively in this manner. Chemisorption of H2 molecules on pristine BN nanotubes is endothermic. Consequently, perfect BN nanotubes are not good candidates for hydrogen storage by either mechanism. Other strategies must be utilized if BN nanotubes are to be employed as hydrogen storage media such as utilizing them as supporting media for hydrogen-absorbing metal nanoclusters.     

In Situ Solid‐State Generation of (BN)2‐Pyrenes and Electroluminescent Devices

New BN‐heterocyclic compounds have been found to undergo double arene photoelimination, forming rare yellow fluorescent BN‐pyrenes that contain two B? N units. Most significant is the discovery that the double arene elimination can also be driven by excitons generated electrically within electroluminescent (EL) devices, enabling the in situ solid‐state conversion of BN‐heterocycles to BN‐pyrenes and the use of BN‐pyrenes as emitters for EL devices. The in situ exciton‐driven elimination (EDE) phenomenon has also been observed for other BN‐heterocycles.     

Interchromophoric interactions in chiral X-type π-conjugated oligomers: a linear and nonlinear optical study

A concept of chiral, X-type organized π-conjugated oligomers, linked by means of a binaphthalene pincer, is presented. NMR spectroscopy and cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry indicate that these oligomers are in close proximity and influence each other in a through-space manner in their neutral as well as in their oxidized states. The interaction between the oligomers was also confirmed by UV-vis, CD, and emission spectroscopy. The synthetic versatility of this design also enables the development of heterocoupled binaphthalene derivatives BN1-2 and BN1-3, consisting of an electron-neutral oligothiophene or electron-rich oligomer and an electron-poor oligothiazole. Hyper-Rayleigh scattering data show a significant enhancement of the second-order nonlinear hyperpolarizability β for BN1-3 and BN1-2, in contrast with the homocoupled binaphthalene derivatives (BN1-1, BN2-2, and BN3-3). This enhancement provides direct proof for the through-space charge-transfer interaction between the p-type and the n-type oligomers within BN1-3 and BN1-2.     

Study on insulating thermal conductive BN/HDPE composites

Thermal conductivity of boron nitride (BN) reinforced high density polyethylene (HDPE) composites was investigated under a special dispersion state of BN particles in HDPE, i.e., BN particles surrounding HDPE matrix particles. The results indicated that the special dispersion of BN in matrix gives the composites high thermal conductivity at low filler content; moreover, the smaller BN particles can more easily form conductive chains of filler compared to the larger filler particles. Examining the dependence of electrical insulation and mechanical properties of the composites on BN content demonstrated that the reinforced composites containing 30% by volume of filler has good electrical insulation and mechanical properties.     

异质富勒烯C76BN的UV和IR光谱研究

Twenty-tow possible isomers for C76BN were studied by INDO methods. The two most stable geometries are 52,53-C76BN and 29,28-C76BN, in which boron and nitrogen atoms are connected with each other and located at the 6/6 bond near the longest axis of C78(C2v). Electronic spectra of C76BN were investigated with INDO/SCI method. UV absorptions of C76BN are red-shifted compared with those of C78(C2v). The structures and IR spectra for the four stable isomers of C76BN were calculated by AM1 method. It was indicated that the substitution of the BN unit weakens the conjugation of carbon atoms, leading to the decrease of IR frequencies.     

Adsorption of hydrogen molecules on the platinum-doped boron nitride nanotubes

Adsorption of hydrogen molecules on platinum-doped single-walled zigzag (8,0) boron nitride (BN) nanotube is investigated using the density-functional theory. The Pt atom tends to occupy the axial bridge site of the BN tube with the highest binding energy of -0.91 eV. Upon Pt doping, several occupied and unoccupied impurity states are induced, which reduces the band gap of the pristine BN nanotube. Upon hydrogen adsorption on Pt-doped BN nanotube, the first hydrogen molecule can be chemically adsorbed on the Pt-doped BN nanotube without crossing any energy barrier, whereas the second hydrogen molecule has to overcome a small energy barrier of 0.019 eV. At least up to two hydrogen molecules can be chemically adsorbed on a single Pt atom supported by the BN nanotube, with the average adsorption energy of -0.365 eV. Upon hydrogen adsorption on a Pt-dimer-doped BN nanotube, the formation of the Pt dimer not only weakens the interaction between the Pt cluster and the BN nanotube but also reduces the average adsorption energy of hydrogen molecules. These calculation results can be useful in the assessment of metal-doped BN nanotubes as potential hydrogen storage media.     

Fluorination and electrical conductivity of BN nanotubes

Fluorination of BN nanotubes has been performed using a catalytic growth method, which leads to the appearance of markedly curved fluorine-doped BN sheets and converts originally insulating BN nanotubes to semiconductors, as confirmed by the comparative electron transport four-probe measurements on doped and undoped individual BN nanotubes.     

First-principles study of interaction between H2 molecules and BN nanotubes with BN divacancies

The interaction between H(2) molecules and boron nitride (BN) single-walled nanotubes with BN divacancies is investigated with density-functional theory. Our calculations reveal that H(2) molecules adsorb physically outside defective BN nanotubes, and cannot enter into BN nanotubes through bare BN divacancies because the energy barrier is as high as 4.62 eV. After the defects are saturated by hydrogen atoms, the physisorption behavior of H(2) molecules is not changed, but the energy barrier of H(2) molecules entering into BN nanotubes through the defects is reduced to 0.58 eV. This phenomenon is ascribed to hydrogen saturation induced reduction of electrostatic potential around the defects.     

Theoretical studies of the substitution patterns of boron-nitrogen (BN) fullerenes: from C50 up to C20B15N15 CBN ball

Study on the patterns of successive BN pair substitution in C50 fullerene and the chemical and electronic properties of these substitutionally doped heterofullerenes has been carried out with semiempirical (AM1 and MNDO) and density functional (B3LYP/3-21G) theories. The BN units prefer to stay together following "single bond", "hexagon filling", and "continuity and equatorial belt" rules. The driving force governing the stabilities of these BN-doped fullerenes is the strain of the cage. Compared with C50, the redox activity of C50-2x(BN)x (x = 1-15) isomers decreases and becomes weaker by increasing the number of BN units, while the aromaticity of the C50-2x(BN)x derivatives decreases and is independent of the number of BN units but related to the substitution positions. The main infrared absorptions are similar for all the C50-2x(BN)x isomers and the infrared spectrum becomes simpler and stronger with increasing the number of BN groups.     

Coaxial nanocables: Fe nanowires encapsulated in BN nanotubes with intermediate C layers

Fe-filled BN nanocables with intermediate C layers were fabricated. Complete phase separation between C and BN was distinguished using electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) measurements and high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) images by the characteristics of well-ordered BN layers and turbostratic C ones. A two-step growth model is proposed for the formation of this remarkable structure. The idea of introducing intermediate C layer, overcoming the wetting restriction of BN surface, may be employed for fabrication of BN nanocables filled with other metal cores.     

铁纳米线-氮化硼纳米管复合结构的形成及其压缩性质的模拟研究

通过分子动力学理论计算方法对铁纳米线(FeNW)在氮化硼纳米管(BNNT)内的形成及其复合结构(FeNW@BNNT)的压缩性质进行了模拟研究。通过对充以铁原子的BN(5,5)和BN(8,8)纳米管的进行结构优化可以发现,在BN(5,5)纳米管轴线上能生成稳定的一维FeNW,而BN(8,8)纳米管内形成呈螺旋状的三束绞缠的FeNW。其径向分布函数表明在BN(5,5)内生成的FeNW具有良好的一维性且原子分布均匀等特征。通过对BN(5,5)与FeNW@BN(5,5)轴向压缩及其能量分析,可以发现它们虽具有相同屈曲应变,但屈曲前FeNW@BN(5,5)的弹性系数稍大于BN(5,5),且FeNW@BN(5,5)抗压屈曲能力也明显较强。     

高温高压Li3N-hBN体系cBN转变的热力学分析

以经典热力学第二定律ΔG<0为依据,分析了静态高温高压触媒法合成立方氮化硼(cBN)过程中发生的可能反应.考虑温度和压强对反应物相体积的影响,计算了六方氮化硼(Li3N-hBN)体系中hBN+Li3N→Li3BN2,h BN→cBN及Li3BN2→Li3N+cBN反应在高温高压条件下的ΔG.结果证实,Li3BN2由Li3N与hBN在高温高压(T>1300 K,P>3.0 GPa)条件下反应得到,在cBN的合成(T=1600～1800 K,P=4.6～6.0 GPa)条件下,hBN和Li3BN2都有向cBN转化的倾向,但由hBN向cBN直接转变的反应自由能比Li3BN2分解生成cBN的反应自由能更负,反应的可能性更大.探讨了高温高压条件下立方氮化硼的转变机理。