Patent ID: 8501136

Claim:
A method of preparing a single-crystalline, rare-earth metal hexaboride nanowire, the method comprising: providing a first gas comprising M(X 1 ) 3 , wherein M is a rare-earth metal selected from the group consisting of Sc, Y, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Tb, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm, Yb, and Lu and wherein X 1 is a halide, and wherein the first gas is provided by providing a solid comprising M(X 1 ) 3 , and vaporizing the solid to form the first gas; providing a second gas, wherein the second gas comprises B(X 2 ) 3 ; wherein X 2 is a halide; providing a substrate; and contacting the first and second gases at a first temperature for a first period of time in the presence of a third gas, wherein said third gas comprises hydrogen gas, whereby the single-crystalline, rare-earth metal hexaboride nanowire deposits on a surface of the substrate.