Comparative High Pressure Raman Study of Boron Nitride Nanotubes and Hexagonal Boron Nitride

TL;DR

This study compares the high pressure Raman responses of boron nitride nanotubes and hexagonal boron nitride, revealing distinct phase transition behaviors and vibrational mode changes under pressure.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed comparison of high pressure Raman effects in BN nanotubes versus hexagonal BN, highlighting their different phase transition and vibrational properties.

Findings

BN nanotubes' vibrational mode vanishes at ~12 GPa

Hexagonal BN undergoes a reversible phase transition at ~13 GPa

Differences in pressure behavior compared to carbon nanotubes and graphite

Abstract

High pressure Raman experiments on Boron Nitride multi-walled nanotubes show that the intensity of the vibrational mode at ~ 1367 cm-1 vanishes at ~ 12 GPa and it does not recover under decompression. In comparison, the high pressure Raman experiments on hexagonal Boron Nitride show a clear signature of a phase transition from hexagonal to wurtzite at ~ 13 GPa which is reversible on decompression. These results are contrasted with the pressure behavior of carbon nanotubes and graphite.