Monolayer formation of hexagonal boron nitride on Ag(001)

• Published in: Surface science 2013-11, Vol.617, p.207-210
• Main Authors: Müller, Frank, Grandthyll, Samuel
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Borazine; Boron nitride; Chemical vapor deposition (CVD); Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Condensed matter: structure, mechanical and thermal properties; Cross-disciplinary physics: materials science; rheology; Exact sciences and technology; Hexagonal boron nitride monolayers (h-BN); Lattices; Low energy electron diffraction (LEED); Monolayers; Physics; Silver Ag; Spots; Transforms; Transition metals; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy; X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS); X-rays
• ISSN: 0039-6028; 1879-2758
• DOI: 10.1016/j.susc.2013.07.024

The formation of monolayers from hexagonal boron nitride, h-BN, on the square Bravais lattice of a Ag(001) surface via chemical vapor deposition of borazine (HBNH)3 was investigated by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and low energy electron diffraction (LEED). Due to the weak interaction between the h-BN monolayer and the Ag surface, there is no preferred orientation of the h-BN lattice. The h-BN-related hexagonal distributions of LEED spots transform into nearly homogeneous rings. The growth of h-BN on Ag(001) is the same as previously demonstrated for Ag(111), giving evidence that for weakly interacting transition metal surfaces the surface symmetry has no distinct impact on the h-BN growth. [Display omitted] •Monolayers of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) are prepared on a Ag(001) surface.•h-BN domains are randomly aligned with respect to the Ag(001) lattice.•For the weakly interacting Ag surface, the symmetry has no impact on the h-BN growth.