Pure Boron Nitride Nanowires Produced from Boron Triiodide
Yong Jun Chen, Hong Zhou Zhang, Ying Chen
Nanotechnology 17 (2006) 786–789

Abstract:

A thick layer of pure boron nitride (BN) nanowires with a uniform diameter of 20 nm was synthesized using a CVD process with a new precursor BI3 for the first time via a new nitriding reaction between boron triiodide and ammonia at 1100ºC. Transmission electron microscopy revealed a nanocrystalline structure in BN nanowires and absence of any catalyst particle. Some BN nanowires self-assembled into long threads up to several hundred micrometers on top of the thick nanowire layer.  The new nitriding reaction and lack of catalyst suggest new formation mechanism of BN nanowires.

Fluoride-assisted synthesis of mullite (Al5.65Si0.35O9.175) nanowires
Yongjun Chen, Bo Chi, Qiuxiang Liu, Denise C. Mahond and Ying Chen
Chemical Communications, 2006, 2780–2782

Abstract:

Novel silicon-deficient mullite (Al5.65Si0.35O9.175) single crystal nanowires were synthesized in large quantities on mica substrates assisted by the intermediate fluoride species. The nanowires have diameters in the range 50–100 nm and typical lengths of several mm. Aligned nanowires were observed at the substrate edge. The nanowires have strong photoluminescence (PL) emission bands at 310, 397, 452 and 468 nm.

Carbon rich silicon oxide nanowires SiO–C-NWs
Chi Pui Li,Ying Chen and John Fitz Gerald
APPLIED PHYSICS LETTERS 88, 223105 (2006)

Abstract:

Substitution reactions between carbon nanotube (CNT) template and SiO produce carbon rich silicon oxide nanowires (SiO-C-NWs) which have been investigated using transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS). The reaction was carried out by thermal annealing at 1200 °C for 1 hour of a mixture of silicon monoxide (SiO) and iron (II) phthalocyanine, FeC32N8H16 (FePc) powders. Multiwalled CNTs were produced first via pyrolysis of FePc at a lower temperature (1000 °C). SiO vapors reacted with the CNTs at higher temperatures to produce amorphous SiO-C-NWs with a uniform diameter and a length in tens of micrometers. The special bamboo-like structure of the CNTs allows the reaction to start from the external surface of the tubes and transform each CNT into a solid nanowire section by section.