Covalent attachments of boron nitride nanotubes through a carboxylic linker: Density functional studies

Properties of attached boron nitride (BN) nanotubes based on linking two zigzag nanotubes through a carboxylic (–(CO)O–) linker were investigated by performing density functional theory (DFT) calculations. The linking boron and nitrogen atoms at the edges of two zigzag BN nanotubes were linked to the –(C]O)O– linker to make possible the attachments of two BN nanotubes together. Total energies, energy gaps, dipole moments, linking bond lengths and angles, and quadrupole coupling constants were obtained for the optimized structures to determine the properties of the attached BN nanotubes. The results indicated that different properties could be seen for the investigated models based on their linking status. For quadrupole coupling constants, the most significant changes of parameters were observed for the linking atoms among the investigated models of attached BN nanotubes.

Graphical abstractFigure optionsDownload full-size imageDownload as PowerPoint slideHighlights► BN nanotubes could be attached together through a peptide linker. ► Linking status could influence on the properties of the attached BN nanotubes. ► The linking atoms of BN nanotubes detect the most effects of BN attachments.