Formation of hexagonal Boron Nitride on Graphene-covered Copper Surfaces

Abstract

Graphene-covered copper surfaces have been exposed to borazine, (BH)3(NH)3, with the resulting surfaces characterized by low-energy electron microscopy. Although the intent of the experiment was to form hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on top of the graphene, such layers were not obtained. Rather, in isolated surface areas, h-BN is found to form micrometer-size islands that substitute for the graphene. Additionally, over nearly the entire surface, the properties of the layer that was originally graphene is observed to change in a manner that is consistent with the formation of a mixed h-BN/graphene alloy, i.e. h-BNC alloy. Furthermore, following the deposition of the borazine, a small fraction of the surface is found to consist of bare copper, indicating etching of the overlying graphene. The inability to form h-BN layers on top of graphene is discussed in terms of the catalytic behavior of the underlying copper surface and the decomposition of the borazine on top of the graphene.

arXiv comment19 pages, 12 figures; submitted to J. Mater. Res.; v2 adds Fig. 5 and makes some minor modifications to text

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Cited by in corpus (5)

• Highly Ordered Boron Nitride/Epigraphene Epitaxial Films on Silicon Carbide by Lateral Epitaxial Deposition
• Characterization of hexagonal boron nitride layers on nickel surfaces by low-energy electron microscopy
• Vertical structure of Sb-intercalated quasifreestanding graphene on SiC(0001)
• Thickness characterization of atomically-thin WSe${}_2$ on epitaxial graphene by low-energy electron reflectivity oscillations
• Substitutional mechanism for growth of hexagonal boron nitride on epitaxial graphene