Dynamics of natural spin defects in boron nitride nanotubes

In this study, we investigated a possible delocalization of natural spin defect in boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs). To this end, an electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) spectroscopy was employed for the BNNTs prepared by balling milling and annealing method. As a result, the EPR lineshape revealed that the spin species were not only originated from a boron site neighboring nitrogen vacancy, but also fairly mobile along the long axis of the BNNTs. Such delocalized characteristics were also supported by the temperature dependence of the full widths at half maximum, deltaH(fwhm) and EPR susceptibilities.