Carbon nanostructures containing boron impurity atoms: synthesis, physicochemical properties and potential applications

Introduction of substitution atoms into carbon nanotubes is an efficient tool of controlling their physicochemical properties which allows one to expand their practical applications. Boron is one of the most promising materials used for the modification of carbon nanotubes. However until now there has been no systematization of research data on the effect of boron impurity atoms on the properties of carbon nanotubes, and this limits potential industrial applications of this nanomaterial. In this work the most efficient currently existing methods of synthesizing carbon nanotubes containing boron impurity atoms have been discussed and the physicochemical properties of the obtained nanomaterials have been analyzed. Furthermore predictions as to their potential application domains have been made on the basis of available theoretical and experimental results. Comparison of the developed technologies has shown that the most efficient synthesis method is the catalytic vapor phase deposition. The mechanical, electronic and chemical properties of boron-carbon nanotubes have also been reviewed. For a more comprehensive analysis of the dependence of the physicochemical properties of carbon nanotubes on the concentration of boron impurity a model experiment has been carried out involving quantum mechanics instruments which has shown a direct correlation between the band gap of the material and the number of boron impurity atoms. The main practical application trends of boron-containing carbon nanotubes have been outlined.