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

Two-dimensional (2D) boron-carbon-nitrogen (BCN) nanostructures combine the characteristics of graphene and hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and offer outstanding optical and electronic properties. In this study, we directly synthesized high-purity BCN nanoflakes via chemical vapor deposition using nickelocene as a remote floating catalyst, achieving uniform deposition regardless of substrate material or morphology, without contaminating the substrate or film with residual metal catalyst. In the gas phase, the nickelocene catalyst sublimates and decomposes, facilitating the decomposition of the reactant gases and enabling the stable vertical growth of BCN nanoflakes. Structural analysis reveals that the synthesized nanoflakes consist of spatially separated h-BN and graphene domains. Photoluminescence measurements confirmed that the defect levels introduced by carbon doping extend the emission spectrum of BCN into the visible region. The combination of controllable defect-state luminescence and compatibility with wafer-scale, transfer-free deposition positions these BCN nanostructures as promising platforms, with strong potential for scalable and versatile use in future optical and optoelectronic applications.