Morphology of nanometric boron nitride powders produced by laser pyrolysis

Ultrafine boron nitride powders were synthesized by laser driven reactions in BCl₃-NH₃ mixtures. The structure and morphology of the graphitic nanoparticles generated in this process were investigated by high-resolution electron microscopy. Polyhedral concentric shells (ranging in size from 30 nm to more than 100 nm) are a major constituent of the as-pyrolyzed powder. This onion-like configuration is very similar to that observed in carbon materials. After heat treatment at 1650°C under nitrogen atmosphere, plate-like particles with a few perfectly flat graphitic sheets (10 to 50 layer thick, 50 nm in diameter) are formed.