Patterned growth and cathodoluminescence of conical boron nitride nanorods

Abstract

We demonstrate a simple and effective approach for growing large-scale, high-density, and well-patterned conical boron nitride nanorods. A catalyst layer of Fe(NO₃)₃ was patterned on a silicon substrate by using a copper grid as a mask. The nanorods were grown via annealing milled boron carbide powders at 1300°C in a flow of nitrogen gas. The as-grown nanorods exhibit uniform morphology and the catalyst pattern precisely defines the position of nanorod deposition. Cathodoluminescence(CL) spectra of the nanorods show two broad emission bands centered at 3.75 and 1.85eV. Panchromatic CL images reveal clear patterned structure.