Title

Evolution of Irradiation‐induced vacancy defects in boron nitride nanotubes

Authors

Guangming Cheng, North Carolina State University
Shanshan Yao, North Carolina State University
Xiahan Sang, North Carolina State University
Boyi Hao, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Dongyan Zhang, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Yoke Khin Yap, Michigan Technological UniversityFollow
Yong Zhu, North Carolina State University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-18-2015

Abstract

Irradiation‐induced vacancy defects in multiwalled (MW) boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are investigated via in situ high‐resolution transmission electron microscope operated at 80 kV, with a homogeneous distribution of electron beam intensity. During the irradiation triangle‐shaped vacancy defects are gradually generated in MW BNNTs under a mediate electron current density (30 A cm⁻²), by knocking the B atoms out. The vacancy defects grow along a well‐defined direction within a wall at the early stage as a result of the curvature induced lattice strain, and then develop wall by wall. The orientation or the growth direction of the vacancy defects can be used to identify the chirality of an individual wall. With increasing electron current density, the shape of the irradiation‐induced vacancy defects changes from regular triangle to irregular polygon.

Publisher's Statement

© 2015 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim. Publisher’s version of record: https://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201502440

Publication Title

Small

Recommended Citation

Cheng, G., Yao, S., Sang, X., Hao, B., Zhang, D., Yap, Y. K., & Zhu, Y. (2015). Evolution of Irradiation‐induced vacancy defects in boron nitride nanotubes. Small, 12(6), 818-824. http://doi.org/10.1002/smll.201502440
Retrieved from: https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/physics-fp/318