Two-nanometer voids in single-layer hexagonal boron nitride: formation via the "can-opener" effect and annihilation by self-healing.
- Cun H Physik-Institut, Universität Zürich , Winterthurerstrasse 190, CH-8057 Zürich, Switzerland.
- Iannuzzi M
- Hemmi A
- Osterwalder J
- Greber T
- 2014-06-18
Published in:
- ACS nano. - 2014
English
The exposure of hexagonal boron nitride single layers to low energy ions leads to the formation of vacancy defects that are mobile at elevated temperatures. For the case of h-BN on rhodium, a superhoneycomb surface with 3 nm lattice constant (nanomesh), a concerted self-assembly of these defects is observed, where the "can-opener" effect leads to the cut-out of 2 nm "lids" and stable voids in the h-BN layer. These clean-cut voids repel each other, which enables the formation of arrays with a nearest neighbor distance down to about 8 nm. The density of voids depends on the Ar ion dose, and can reach 10(12) cm(-2). If the structures are annealed above 1000 K, the voids disappear and pristine h-BN nanomesh with larger holes is recovered. The results are obtained by scanning tunneling microscopy and density functional theory calculations.
- Language
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- English
- Open access status
- green
- Identifiers
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- DOI 10.1021/nn502645w
- PMID 24937360
- Persistent URL
- https://sonar.ch/global/documents/110479
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