Synthesis and Functionalization of Atomic Layer Boron Nitride Nanosheets for Advanced Material Applications
Abstract
Besides graphene, hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) are playing an excellent role for the next generation of 2-dimensional (2D) functional nanomaterials. Due to the similar lattice parameter and identical crystalline structure to that of graphene, BNNSs are often known as white graphene. These nanosheets exhibit several unique properties that make them preferable to graphene in some ways. Unlike graphene, there was no established method for obtaining large scale of single- or few-layer BNNSs. In our current research, we installed and upgraded CO2-pulsed laser plasma deposition system and introduced new experimental parameters in order to achieve large amount of high quality, few atomic layers BNNSs at significantly low substrate temperature down to 300 oC and at short interval of deposition time (e.g. 3-5 sec). With the variation of deposition parameters such as using H2 gas as deposition environment, we controlled the thicknesses of nanosheets down to 1.5 nm, while quality and purity of the sample were still very high. Moreover, the depositions performed in H2 environment effectively prevented nanosheets from sputtering through high energy boron (B) and nitrogen (N) ions, as result, large amount of single-crystal and polycrystalline nanosheets were obtained. The size, shape, thickness, density, and alignment of the BNNSs were well-controlled by appropriately changing the deposition conditions. TEM images showed large area, flat and transparent BNNSs while, high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) showed the sheets to be mostly defect-free and to have the characteristic honeycomb crystal lattice structure based on six-membered B3-N3 hexagon. From HRTEM measurements, one can clearly distinguish between the bright and slightly dull dots related to B and N atoms arranged in a typical honeycomb network structure, similar to C-C atoms in graphene.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jun 05, 2014
- Accession Number
- ADA616649
Entities
People
- Muhammad Sajjad
Organizations
- University of Puerto Rico