Rebar Graphene from Functionalized Boron Nitride Nanotubes

• Published in: ACS nano Vol. 9; no. 1; pp. 532 - 538
• Main Authors: Li, Yilun, Peng, Zhiwei, Larios, Eduardo, Wang, Gunuk, Lin, Jian, Yan, Zheng, Ruiz-Zepeda, Francisco, José-Yacamán, Miguel, Tour, James M
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States American Chemical Society 27-01-2015
• Subjects: Boron Compounds - chemistry; Boron nitride; Chemical vapor deposition; Covalent bonds; Glass - chemistry; Graphene; Graphite - chemistry; Mechanical Phenomena; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Nanotubes - chemistry; Optical Phenomena; Rebar; Reinforcing steels; Two dimensional; CVD; free-standing; BCN hybrid structure; BNNTs; rebar graphene; STEM
• ISSN: 1936-0851; 1936-086X
• DOI: 10.1021/nn505792n

The synthesis of rebar graphene on Cu substrates is described using functionalized boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) that were annealed or subjected to chemical vapor deposition (CVD) growth of graphene. Characterization shows that the BNNTs partially unzip and form a reinforcing bar (rebar) network within the graphene layer that enhances the mechanical strength through covalent bonds. The rebar graphene is transferrable to other substrates without polymer assistance. The optical transmittance and conductivity of the hybrid rebar graphene film was tested, and a field effect transistor was fabricated to explore its electrical properties. This method of synthesizing 2D hybrid graphene/BN structures should enable the hybridization of various 1D nanotube and 2D layered structures with enhanced mechanical properties.