Direct Synthesis of BCN Nanoflakes Using Nickelocene as a Remote Floating Catalyst

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Nanotechnology
• Chemistry

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) boron-carbon-nitrogen (BCN) nanostructures integrate properties of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN).
• These materials exhibit unique optical and electronic characteristics, making them attractive for advanced applications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a method for synthesizing high-purity BCN nanoflakes.
• To investigate the optical properties and potential applications of these nanostructures.

Main Methods:

• Direct synthesis of BCN nanoflakes using chemical vapor deposition (CVD).
• Utilized nickelocene as a remote floating catalyst for uniform, metal-free deposition.
• Structural analysis and photoluminescence measurements were performed.

Main Results:

• Achieved high-purity BCN nanoflakes with spatially separated hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and graphene domains.
• Demonstrated uniform deposition on various substrates without catalyst contamination.
• Photoluminescence measurements showed extended emission into the visible spectrum due to carbon-doping-induced defect levels.

Conclusions:

• The developed CVD method enables scalable, transfer-free synthesis of BCN nanostructures.
• Tunable defect-state luminescence and wafer-scale compatibility position BCN as a promising material for optical and optoelectronic applications.