Electronic and optical properties of boron nitride nanotubes

Boron nitride (BN) nanotubes were fabricated, and their electronic and optical properties were investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) and optical absorption at room temperature. STM images showed atomic arrangements of BN nanotubes, and its chirality was directly observed. The current–voltage characteristics of the BN nanotubes showed onset voltage at 5.0 V, and the optical absorption spectrum of BN nanotubes showed a peak at 4.8 eV.