Radiation shielding is an obstacle in long duration space exploration. Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) have attracted attention as an additive to radiation shielding material due to B’s large neutron capture cross section. The B has an effective neutron capture cross section suitable for low energy neutrons ranging from 10 to 10 eV and hydrogen is effective at slowing down high energy neutrons....

The recent observation of high flexibility in buckled boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) contradicts the pre-existing belief about BN nanotube brittleness due to the partially ionic character of bonding between the B and N atoms. However, the underlying mechanisms and relationships within the nanotube remained unexplored. This study reports for the first time the buckling mechanism in multi-walled...

Colemanite (Ca2B6O11·5H2O) is a natural and new precursor material for the synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). BNNTs have been synthesized from unprocessed colemanite for the first time. The reaction parameters such as time, catalyst type, catalyst amount and temperature were optimized. It was found that the BNNT formation follows the base growth mechanism, which was initiated with a ...

High growth temperatures (>1100 degrees C), low production yield, and impurities have prevented research progress and applications of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) in the past 10 years. Here, we show that BNNTs can be grown on substrates at 600 degrees C. These BNNTs are constructed of high-order tubular structures and can be used without purification. Tunneling spectroscopy indicates that th...

The adsorption of glycine (Gly) both in gas-phase conditions and in a microsolvated state on a series of zig-zag (n,0) single-walled boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs, n = 4, 6, 9 and 15) has been studied by means of B3LYP-D2* periodic calculations. Gas-phase Gly is found to be chemisorbed on the (4,0), (6,0) and (9,0) BNNTs by means of a dative interaction between the NH2 group of Gly and a B ato...

We provide insight into the interaction of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) with cell membranes to better understand their improved biocompatibility compared to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). Contrary to CNTs, no computational studies exist investigating the insertion mechanism and stability of BNNTs in membranes. Our molecular dynamics simulations demonstrate that BNNTs are spontaneously attracted to...

For the first time, patterned growth of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) on Si substrates has been achieved by catalytic chemical vapor deposition (CCVD). Following the boron oxide chemical pathway and our growth vapor trapping approach, high quality and quantity BNNTs can be produced. Effective catalysts have been found to facilitate the growth of BNNTs, while some critical parameters of the sy...

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have many fascinating properties and a wide range of applications. An improved ball milling method has been developed for high-yield BNNT synthesis, in which metal nitrate, such as Fe(NO3)3, and amorphous boron powder are milled together to prepare a more effective precursor. The heating of the precursor in nitrogen-containing gas produces a high density of BNNTs...

N2O decomposition on iron-doped boron nitride nanotubes (Fe-BNNTs) was investigated by means of the density functional theory (M06-L). Two different forms of Fe-BNNTs, which are substitutions of the Fe atom into the boron-vacancy and nitrogen-vacancy sites of BNNTs, were used as the catalyst. Influence of the support plays a crucial role in the electronic configuration and catalytic reactivity ...

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have attracted huge attention in many different research fields thanks to their outstanding chemical and physical properties. During recent years, our group has pioneered the use of BNNTs for biomedical applications, first of all assessing their in vitro cytocompatibility on many different cell lines. At this point, in vivo investigations are necessary before pro...