Defect Photoluminescence from Alkylated Boron Nitride Nanotubes

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are chemically functionalized by a reductive alkylation reaction for defect doping to create luminescent defects. The hexyl group attachment on the BNNT wall results in sp3 boron atom defect formation in the BN network, by which defect photoluminescence from the functionalized BNNTs is newly observed in a UV–vis region. This chemistry-based defect doping technique offers an attractive tool for bandgap engineering of BNNTs.