Catalytic synthesis of boron nitride nanotubes at low temperatures.

KFeO is demonstrated to be an efficient catalyst for the formation of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) by thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD). This alkali-based catalyst enables the formation of crystalline, multi-walled BNNTs with high aspect ratio at temperatures as low as 750 °C, significantly lower than those typically required for the product formation by TCVD.

Hydrogen Chemical Configuration and Thermal Stability in Tungsten Disulfide Nanoparticles Exposed to Hydrogen Plasma.

The chemical configuration and interaction mechanism of hydrogen adsorbed in inorganic nanoparticles of WS are investigated. Our recent approaches of using hydrogen activated by either microwave or radiofrequency plasma dramatically increased the efficiency of its adsorption on the nanoparticles surface. In the current work we make an emphasis on elucidation of the chemical configuration of the adsorbed hydrogen.

Photogenerated cumulenic structure of adamantyl endcapped linear carbon chains: an experimental and computational investigation based on infrared spectroscopy.

The infrared (IR) spectrum of an adamantyl endcapped α, ω-polyyne (the hexayne, Ad-C(12)-Ad) is investigated both experimentally and computationally. A new IR band is observed upon UV photoexcitation of the compound (embedded in a poly methyl methacrylate matrix at 78 K), thus, revealing the existence of new photogenerated molecular structure trapped at low temperature. Complete reversibility is found, thus, demonstrating that the photoexcitation is responsible for the generation of metastable excited states of the molecule.