Role of nickel particles in selected growth of boron carbonitride tubular structures

Using Ni as catalyst, boron carbonitride (BCN) nanotubes/nanofibres were synthesized from a mixture of N2, H2, CH4, and B2H6 by means of plasma-assisted hot filament chemical vapor deposition. The activated Ni catalysts exhibit some preferred crystal orientations at different inlet B2H6 concentrations, such as [011] at 1.0%, [1̄11] at 1.5%, and [1̄13] at 2.0%, respectively. Our results imply that Ni catalytic particles play an important role in the formation of the stable phases of BCN nanotubes/nanofibres with different chemical compositions.