Covalent Functionalization: Towards Soluble Multiwalled Boron Nitride Nanotubes

Playing with the band: Long alkyl chains are bound to boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) from the reaction of stearoyl chloride with amino groups on the BNNTs; the resulting functionalized BNNTs (see picture) are soluble in many organic solvents. Cathodoluminescence and UV/Vis absorption experiments indicate that the long alkyl chains may induce drastic changes in the band structure of BNNTs.