Synthesis and Characterization of AlB_(12) Nanorods

Chemical vapor deposition(CVD) method was utilized to synthesize single-crystal AlB_(12) nanorods on Si substrates in the high temperature horizontal furnace under H_2 and Ar atmosphere,using Al powders and BCl_3 gas as precursors without any catalysts.The morphology,crystal structures and components of the AlB_(12) were examined by scanning electron microscope(SEM),high-resolution transmission electron microscope(HRTEM),selected-area electron diffraction(SAED) and energy disperse spectrometer(EDS).SEM shows that the as-synthesized nanowires with the diameter ranging from 100nm to 350 nm and length ranging from several nanometers to several micrometers. HRTEM,SAED,and EDS reveal that the AlB_(12) nanorods are crystals elongated along the[020]direction.And growth mechanism based on the self-catalyst process is proposed for the formation of the AlB_(12) nanorods.