BNNTs have recently attracted much attention in the literature due to their amazing properties, such as excellent chemical and thermal stability, strong thermal conductivity, and a high Young’s modulus. Additionally, unlike carbon nanotubes (CNTs), they have a uniform wide band gap, which is independent of tube diameter and chirality. These unique features, make BNNTs ideal for use in a wide range of applications, such as protective shields or thermal reinforcements. However, before these applications can be obtained, much research must be done concerning BNNT purification, dispersion, and functionalization.<br/>We plan to utilize the intrinsic photoluminescence of BNNTs to image them by single molecule fluorescence microscopy. Direct imaging will allow us to study the dynamics and phase behavior of BNNTs in solution. Based on previous work with CNTs, we believe we will be able to elucidate information about BNNT diffusivity, interactions between individual tubes, and formation energies of liquid crystals. Upon completion, this research will provide a fundamental understanding of BNNTs’ behavior in solution, and how this behavior is tuned with changing conditions. Furthermore, controlled formation of liquid crystals will enable development of macroscopic BNNT materials of various architectures. To this end, we are currently studying the properties of BNNTs dispersed in various surfactants. Additionally, as BNNTs absorb and emit in the UV, we have synthesized a Rhodamine-based surfactant to allow us to image in the visible region. Preliminary results have shown that interaction between BNNTs and our Rhodamine surfactant produces a shift in Rhodamine’s absorption and emission, indicating a strong interaction between the Rhodamine and the nanotubes. Additionally, analysis of videos of BNNTs dispersed in the Rhodamine surfactant is being used to study nanotube behavior and interactions. The spectral characterization of BNNTs dispersed in surfactants, the Rhodamine surfactant synthesis, and preliminary analysis of nanotube behavior will be presented.

Imaging boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) by single molecule fluorescence microscopy

255th National Meeting (2018)

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