Efficient boron-carbon-nitrogen nanotube formation via combined laser-gas flow levitation

A process for producing boron-carbon-nitrogen nanotube fibers of the general formula BxCyNz, the process comprising the steps;

• a. providing a boron ball target, a first laser beam having an adjustable power level, a nitrogen gas flow, and a carbon source;
• b. positioning said boron ball target in a reaction position above said first laser beam and in said nitrogen gas flow, to form a reaction position comprising a vertical reaction position and a horizontal reaction position;
• c. adjusting the power level of said first laser beam to provide sufficient force from said first laser beam to balance said boron ball target against the force of gravity and maintain said boron ball target in said vertical reaction position;
• d. heating said boron ball target with said first laser beam to a temperature wherein the heating vaporizes a portion of said boron ball target and vaporizes said carbon source to form a boron and carbon vapor plume and disassociates said nitrogen gas into atomic nitrogen;
• e. adjusting the power level of said first laser beam to maintain said heated boron ball target balanced in said vertical reaction position as said boron and carbon vapor plume moves upward from said boron ball target;
• f. providing a second laser beam positioned above and to the side of said boron ball target, wherein said second laser beam exerts a second laser beam force on said boron ball target to maintain said boron ball target in said horizontal reaction position;
• and
• g. forming a plurality of boron-carbon-nitrogen nanotubes of the general formula BxCyNz as said boron and carbon vapor plume moves upward and contacts said atomic nitrogen.