Production and State‐of‐the‐Art Characterization of Aligned Nanotubes with Homogeneous BC_xN (1 ≤ x ≤ 5) Compositions

Aligned and hollow BC_xN nanotubes with uniformly distributed concentrations of B, C, and N are produced by reacting aligned CN_x nanotubes with B₂O₃ and CuO in a N₂ atmosphere at ∼ 1800 °C. It is found that the production of these homogeneous nanotubes is sensitive to the reaction temperature determining the growth kinetics, because segregation of BCN domains may occur at lower or higher temperatures than those used in this study. The Figure shows a molecular model of a coaxial nanocable composed of B, C, and N.