Stability of BN/metal interfaces in gaseous atmosphere

• Published in: Nano research Vol. 8; no. 1; pp. 227 - 237
• Main Authors: Yang, Yang, Fu, Qiang, Wei, Mingming, Bluhm, Hendrik, Bao, Xinhe
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Heidelberg Tsinghua University Press 01.01.2015; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Atmosphere; Atmospheres; Atomic/Molecular Structure and Spectra; Biomedicine; Biotechnology; Boron; Boron nitride; Chemistry and Materials Science; Comparative studies; Condensed Matter Physics; Devices; Electrons; Epitaxial growth; Graphene; Intercalation; Interfaces; Materials Science; Microscopy; Nanostructure; Nanotechnology; Oxygen; Physicochemical properties; Research Article; Stability; X-rays; X射线光电子能谱法; 六方氮化硼; 气体环境; 气态; 气氛; 物理化学性质; 稳定; 金属界面; PEEM; intercalation; Ru; BN; AP-XPS; graphene
• ISSN: 1998-0124; 1998-0000
• DOI: 10.1007/s12274-014-0639-0

Hexagonal boron nitride （h-BN） is often prepared by epitaxial growth on metals, and stability of the formed BN/metal interfaces in gaseous environment is a key issue for physicochemical properties of the BN overlayers. As an illustration here, the structural change of a BN/Ru（0001） interface upon exposure to 02 has been investigated using in situ photoemission electron microscopy （PEEM） and ambient pressure X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy （AP-XPS）. We demonstrate the occurrence of oxygen intercalation of the BN overlayers in 02 atmosphere, which decouples the BN overlayer from the substrate. Comparative studies of oxygen intercalation at BN/Ru（0001） and graphene/Ru（0001） surfaces indicate that the oxygen intercalation of BN overlayers happens more easily than graphene. This finding will be of importance for future applications of BN-based devices and materials under ambient conditions.