96 nanomaterials nanoribbons

Another suggested nanomaterial for use as a BNCT agent is the boron nanotube (BNT)." Boron nanotubes are one of a series of boron nanostmcmres, such as nanoribbons" and nanowires, ° that have recently been synthesized. 

The preparation method of 1-D PPy nanomaterials (nanowires and nanoribbons) was developed using a lamellar mesostructure formed in-situ between surfactant cation and oxidizing anion during polymerization [233]. The diameter of as-prepared PPy nanowires was in the range of 20-65 nm, and the length was up to several micrometers. 

Potentially the most effective nanomaterial for use as a BNCT agent would be the boron nanotube (BNT) itself. BNTs are one of the latest materials resulting from advancements in nanotechnology. Interest in their fabrication is largely due to the variable conductivity limitations present in the well-documented CNTs. The BNTs can lead to the creation of a series of boron nanostructures, such as boron nanoribbons [85] and nanowires [86] (see Figure 7.12). 

FIGURE 7.12 Micrographs of novel boron nanomaterials (a) SEM image of boron nanoribbons, (b) SEM image of boron nanowires, and (c) TEM image of BNTs. (Adapted from Quandt, A. Boustani, I., Chem. Phy. Chem. 2005, 6, 2001-2008.)... 

Depending on the dimension and typical features of the nanostructures, all boron nanomaterials can broadly be accommodated in the following categories nanowires, nanotubes, nanobelts, nanoribbons, nanorods, and nanosheets. Apart from the pure boron compounds, there are several boron-based nanomaterials, that is, combination of boron with other elements, prepared, characterized, and reported recently. Among all these nanomaterials, we have chosen a few of the most important substances, including boron nitride, boron carbide, and nanostructures, guided by the scope and limitations of this chapter. 

Nanomaterials can be classified as zero- (OD), one- (ID) and two-dimensional (2D) materials based on their size. OD nanomaterials are composed of a limited number of atoms (usually under 100). They are nanomaterials that have all the dimensions (x-y-z) in the nanoscale. ID nanomaterials have a large aspect ratio and have at least one dimension greater than nanoscale (for instance nanotubes with diameter in nanoscale and length on the micron scale). 2D nanomaterials have at least two dimensions on the micron scale, for instance, nanoplatelets and nanoribbons with length, breadth, or diameter on the micron scale. 2D nanomaterials are generally sheets, ribbons, or platelets with a nanoscale thickness (z). 

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