Effect of reaction temperature and catalyst type on the formation of Boron nitride nanotubes by chemical vapor deposition and measurement of their hydrogen storage capacity

Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1021/ie301605z

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) were synthesized over both Fe3+ impregnated MCM-41 (mobil composition of matter no. 41) and Fe2O3/MCM-41 complex catalyst systems at relatively low temperatures for 1 h by the chemical vapor deposition technique in large quantities. The formation of BNNT was tailored at different reaction temperatures by changing catalyst type. The use of Fe3+-MCM-41 and Fe2O3 as a complex catalyst system led to thin and thick tube formations. The diameters of BNNTs were in the range of 2.5-4.0 nm for thin tubes and 20-60 nm for thick tubes. The thin tube formation originated from the growth of BNNT over Fe3+-MCM-41 due to its average pore size of 4 nm. Higher reaction temperatures caused both BNNT and iron-based side product formations. The hydrogen uptake capacity measurements by the Intelligent Gravimetric Analyzer at room temperature showed that BNNTs could adsorb 0.85 wt % hydrogen which was two times larger than that for commercial carbon nanotubes.