Novel precursor for h-BN synthesis on Ni(111) substrates

Campos Jara, S.; Roorda, T.; Jong, L.P.M. de; Virchenko, V.; Jiao, A.; Prieto, M.J.; Tanase, L.C.; Mawass, A.M.; Hsueh, J.W.; Calvi, V.; Os, J. van; Felez Guerrero, N.; Monsma, R.; Rijn, R. van; Schmidt, T.; Schneider, G.; Groot I.M.N

doi:doi:10.1021/acs.jpcc.5c03822

In this study, we report the synthesis of single-crystalline h-BN on Ni(111) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions using hexamethylborazine (HMB) as a nonclassical precursor. The novel use of HMB facilitates the diffusion of methyl groups into the bulk of Ni(111), playing a critical role in the achievement of high-quality crystalline h-BN layers. The synthesis is performed on a 2 mm-thick Ni(111) single crystal and on a 2-mu m-thick Ni(111) thin film on sapphire to evaluate the feasibility of synthesizing h-BN on industrially relevant substrates. Advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques confirm the successful synthesis of h-BN. The growth of h-BN was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and low-energy electron microscopy. Low-energy electron diffraction confirms the single crystallinity of the grown 2-dimensional layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the presence of boron and nitrogen bonds at the same binding energies reported in the literature for h...Show moreIn this study, we report the synthesis of single-crystalline h-BN on Ni(111) under ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) conditions using hexamethylborazine (HMB) as a nonclassical precursor. The novel use of HMB facilitates the diffusion of methyl groups into the bulk of Ni(111), playing a critical role in the achievement of high-quality crystalline h-BN layers. The synthesis is performed on a 2 mm-thick Ni(111) single crystal and on a 2-mu m-thick Ni(111) thin film on sapphire to evaluate the feasibility of synthesizing h-BN on industrially relevant substrates. Advanced microscopic and spectroscopic techniques confirm the successful synthesis of h-BN. The growth of h-BN was investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy and low-energy electron microscopy. Low-energy electron diffraction confirms the single crystallinity of the grown 2-dimensional layer. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirms the presence of boron and nitrogen bonds at the same binding energies reported in the literature for h-BN. In contrast, photoemission electron microscopy allows identification of the presence of h-BN throughout the Ni(111) surface. This work advances the understanding of h-BN growth mechanisms on metal substrates and provides a foundation for improving synthesis methods to meet the demands of next-generation materials and devices.Show less

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Novel precursor for h-BN synthesis on Ni(111) substrates