Synthesis and formation mechanism of BN nanotubes catalyzed by Mg through ball milling and annealing process

In order to improve the yield of BN nanotubes prepared by ball milling annealing method, a small amount of magnesium was used as catalyst to synthesized boron nitride nanotubes. The results showed that boron nitride nanotubes with high yield, high purity and uniform size were synthesized. The morphology of the synthesized BNNTs is bamboo-like and cylinder-shaped. The diameter of them is about 50 to 150 nm and most of them are 100nm. The length of them is dozens of microns. The existence of end particles indicates that the growth mechanism of BNNTs can be attributed to a gas-liquid-solid growth model. The magnesium catalyzed preparation of boron nitride nanotubes has stable process, high yield and high purity, which is expected to be a good method for large-scale preparation of boron nitride nanotubes.