Controlled surface modification of boron nitride nanotubes was achieved by gentle plasma treatment. Firstly, it was shown that an amorphous surface layer found on the outside of the nanotubes can be removed without damaging the nanotube structure. Secondly, it was shown that an oxygen plasma creates nitrogen vacancies that then allow oxygen atoms to be successfully substituted onto the surface of BNNTs. The percentage of oxygen atoms can be controlled by changing the input plasma energy and by the Ar plasma pre-treatment time. Finally, it was demonstrated that nitrogen functional groups can be introduced onto the surface of BNNTs using an N2+H2 plasma. The N2+H2 plasma also created nitrogen vacancies, some of which led to surface functionalization while some underwent oxygen healing.

Controlled Surface Modification of Boron Nitride Nanotubes. X.J.Dai, Y.Chen, Z.Chen, P.R.Lamb, L.H.Li, J.Du Plessis, D.G.McCulloch, X.Wang: Nanotechnology, 2011, 22[24], 245301