Synthesis of BC1.61N0.76 micro-nano structures from natural rubber latex with visible-light emission property

A novel route to the synthesis of boron carbonitride (BC1.61N0.76) micro-nano structures called nanosheet-decorated submicrowires is demonstrated for the first time, by annealing amorphous boron powder, natural rubber latex and ferric chloride (FeCl3) at 1200 °C in flowing ammonia atmosphere. The microwires have diameters of about 200-500 nm, while the nanosheets have an average thickness of less than 20 nm. The nanosheets are mostly separated with a bending and crumpling morphology. This micro-nano structure shows good visible-light emission property at 501.2 and 592.6 nm. A combination growth mechanism of vapor-liquid-solid (VLS) and vapor-solid (VS) model is proposed to be responsible for the formation of this BC1.61N0.76 micro-nano structure.