Hollow boron nitride (BN) nanocages and BN-nanocage-encapsulated nanocrystals.

Hollow boron nitride (BN) nanocages (nanospheres, image on the left) and BN-nanocage-encapsulated GaN nanocrystals (right) have been synthesized by using a homemade B-N-O precursors. The as-prepared BN hollow nanocages have typically spherical morphologies with diameters ranging from 30 to 200 nm. The nanocages have crystalline structures. Peanutlike nanocages with double walls have also been observed; their internal space is divided into seperated compartments by the internal walls. The method is extended to sheathe nanocrystals with BN nanocages; BN-shell/GaN-core nanostructures have been successfully fabriacted. The method may be generally applicable to the fabrication BN-sheathed nanocrystals.