Single-crystalline gallium nitride nanobelts

Single-crystalline wurtzite gallium nitride nanobelts were synthesized by thermal reaction of gallium, gallium nitride, and ammonia using iron and boron oxide as catalysts. The structure of nanobelts was investigated by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy with electron energy-loss spectroscopy. They have a distinctive triangle tip and thick side edges. The widths are 200–300 nm, the thickness of belt plane is about 1/10 of the width, and the lengths are up to a few tens μm. The growth direction is uniformly perpendicular to the [010] direction.