Perfectly dissolved boron nitride nanotubes due to polymer wrapping

We report for the first time that boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) may be dissolved in organic solvents by wrapping them with a polymer. Transmission electron microscopy and cathodoluminescence studies indicate the strong pi-pi interactions between BNNTs and the polymer. A band gap ranging from 5.2 to 5.5 eV was documented for the BNNTs independent of their geometrical characteristics by using ultraviolet-visible absorption experiments on composite films and thin BNNT films prepared from solutions.     

Insulating tubular BN sheathing on semiconducting nanowires

An effective method was developed for generation of insulating tubular boron nitride (BN)-sheathed nanostructures. ZnS nanowires and multilayered Si-SiO2 nanowires were successfully sheathed with insulating tubular BN-forming nanocables. Both the semiconductor nanowire cores and the BN sheaths are crystalline with well-uniform morphologies.     

Catalyzed collapse and enhanced hydrogen storage of BN nanotubes

The novel morphology of BN nanotubes with a collapsed structure has been discovered by a metal-catalyzed treatment. The collapse causes the dramatic enlargement of a specific surface area of BN nanotubes and remarkably enhances the hydrogen storage capacity of BN nanotubes.     

Layer-by-layer assembled multilayer films of titanate nanotubes, Ag- or Au-loaded nanotubes, and nanotubes/nanosheets with polycations

Aqueous suspensions of hydrothermally synthesized titanate nanotubes and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride) (PDDA) have been employed to fabricate multilayer films on various substrates in a layer-by-layer fashion. Atomic force microscopy displays the dense coverage of the substrate surface by the nanotubes. UV-vis absorption spectroscopy confirms the consecutive growth of PDDA/nanotube layer pairs. Single crystalline Ag and Au nanoparticles with narrow size distribution spatially correlating with the nanotubes have been obtained by treating the nanotubes with AgNO(3) or HAuCl(4) aqueous solution followed by chemical reduction. The noble metal nanoparticles show a strong surface plasmon absorption band. A multilayer film construction of the noble-metal-loaded nanotubes has also been achieved. This process has been further extended to the heteroassembly of nanotubes/nanosheets in different layer sequences.     

Growth of self-organized hierarchical ZnO nanoarchitectures by a simple In/In2S3 controlled thermal evaporation process

Novel hierarchical ZnO nanoarchitectures, such as microtrepangs, microbelts, nanoflowers, nanocombs, nanowheels, and nanofans assembled by ZnO nanocones, nanobowling pins, nanobottles, nanoarrows, and nanonails, have had their growth controlled by the thermal evaporation of Zn and a mixture of In and In2S3. Both the morphologies of the products and their construction units could be efficiently controlled by simple adjustment of the weight ratio of In/In2S3. The phase structure, morphologies, and photoluminescence properties of the ZnO products were investigated by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy, and photoluminescence spectroscopy. These novel hierarchical ZnO nanoarchitectures may be attractive building blocks for creating optical or other nanodevices.     

Specific adenine alkylation by pyrrole-imidazole CBI conjugates

We examined DNA alkylation by pyrrole (Py)-imidazole (Im) hairpin polyamides, which possess 1,2,9,9a-tetrahydrocyclopropa[1,2-c]benz[1,2-e]indol-4-one (CBI) or cyclopropapyrroloindole (CPI) as DNA alkylating moieties. High-resolution denaturing gel electrophoresis revealed that alkylation by CBI conjugates 2 and 4 occurred specifically at adenines (A) in matched sequences, whereas CPI conjugates 1 and 3 alkylated both A and guanines (G) in matched sequences. The origin of the different reactivity of CBI and CPI conjugates is discussed in relation to the electrophilicity of the cyclopropane moiety. The high selectivity of the CBI conjugate gives additional sequence specificity relative to CPI conjugates that would be useful for the biological applications.     

Excellent field-emission properties of P-doped GaN nanowires

GaN nanowires with P doping were synthesized via a simple thermal evaporation process. The P-doped GaN nanowires have average diameters of approximately 100 nm and lengths up to tens of micrometers. Scanning electron microscope and high-resolution field-emission transmission electron microscope analyses revealed that P doping results in a rough surface morphology of GaN nanowires. Field-emission measurements showed that P doping effectively decreases the turn-on field of GaN nanowire to 5.1 V/mum, holding promise of application as an electron emitter. The rough surface is responsible for enhancement of the field-emission properties of GaN nanowires.