Enhancing Infrared Light-Matter Interaction for Deterministic and Tunable Nanomachining of Hexagonal Boron Nitride

Tailoring two-dimensional (2D) materials functionalities is closely intertwined with defect engineering. Conventional methods do not offer the necessary control to locally introduce and study defects in 2D materials, especially in non-vacuum environments. Here, an infrared pulsed laser focused under the metallic tip of an atomic force microscope cantilever is used to create nanoscale defects in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and to subsequently investigate the induced lattice distortions by means of nanoscale infrared (nano-IR) spectroscopy. The effects of incoming light power, exposure time, and environmental conditions on the defected regions are considered. Nano-IR spectra complement the morphology maps by revealing changes in lattice vibrations that distinguish the defects formed under various environments. This work introduces versatile experimental avenues to trigger and probe local reactions that functionalize 2D materials through defect creation with a higher level of precision for applications in sensing, catalysis, optoelectronics, quantum computing, and beyond.