Liquid crystals of neat boron nitride nanotubes and their assembly into ordered macroscopic materials.

Autor: Simonsen Ginestra, Cedric J., Martínez-Jiménez, Cecilia, Matatyaho Ya'akobi, Asia, Dewey, Oliver S., Smith McWilliams, Ashleigh D., Headrick, Robert J., Acapulco, Jesus A., Scammell, Lyndsey R., Smith, Michael W., Kosynkin, Dmitry V., Marincel, Daniel M., Park, Cheol, Chu, Sang-Hyon, Talmon, Yeshayahu, Martí, Angel A., Pasquali, Matteo
Zdroj: Nature Communications; 6/7/2022, Vol. 13 Issue 1, p1-8, 8p
Abstrakt: Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) have attracted attention for their predicted extraordinary properties; yet, challenges in synthesis and processing have stifled progress on macroscopic materials. Recent advances have led to the production of highly pure BNNTs. Here we report that neat BNNTs dissolve in chlorosulfonic acid (CSA) and form birefringent liquid crystal domains at concentrations above 170 ppmw. These tactoidal domains merge into millimeter-sized regions upon light sonication in capillaries. Cryogenic electron microscopy directly shows nematic alignment of BNNTs in solution. BNNT liquid crystals can be processed into aligned films and extruded into neat BNNT fibers. This study of nematic liquid crystals of BNNTs demonstrates their ability to form macroscopic materials to be used in high-performance applications. Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTS) have only been shown to dissolve in chlorosulfonic acid (CSA) at low concentrations. Here the authors successfully demonstrate the formation of liquid crystals of BNNTs in CSA that can be used to produce macroscopically aligned neat fibers of BNNTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Databáze: Complementary Index
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