• 文献标题:   Anisotropic Etching of Hexagonal Boron Nitride and Graphene: Question of Edge Terminations
  • 文献类型:   Article
  • 作  者:   STEHLE YY, SANG XH, UNOCIC RR, VOYLOV D, JACKSON RK, SMIRNOV S, VLASSIOUK I
  • 作者关键词:   2d material, apcvd, edge termination, hydrogen etching, hbn, boron nitride, graphene
  • 出版物名称:   NANO LETTERS
  • ISSN:   1530-6984 EI 1530-6992
  • 通讯作者地址:   Oak Ridge Natl Lab
  • 被引频次:   12
  • DOI:   10.1021/acs.nanolett.7b02841
  • 出版年:   2017

▎ 摘  要

Chemical vapor deposition (CVD) has been established as the most effective way to grow large area two-dimensional materials. Direct study of the etching process can reveal subtleties of this competing with the growth reaction and thus provide the necessary details of the overall growth mechanism. Here we investigate hydrogen-induced etching of hBN and graphene and compare the results with the classical kinetic Wulff construction model. Formation of the anisotropically etched holes in the center of hBN and graphene single crystals was observed along with the changes in the crystals' circumference. We show that the edges of triangular holes in hBN crystals formed at regular etching conditions are parallel to B-terminated zigzags, opposite to the N-terminated zigzag edges of hBN triangular crystals. The morphology of the etched hBN holes is affected by a disbalance of the B/N ratio upon etching and can be shifted toward the anticipated from the Wulff model N-terminated zigzag by etching in a nitrogen buffer gas instead of a typical argon. For graphene, etched hexagonal holes are terminated by zigzag, while the crystal circumference is gradually changing from a pure zigzag to a slanted angle resulting in dodecagons.