Nanoporous BNC network on Au(111) from a borazine-based arylalkyne

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Surface Chemistry
• Nanotechnology

Background:

• Boron-nitrogen-carbon materials offer unique electronic and structural properties.
• Controlled synthesis of nanoporous networks is crucial for advanced applications.
• Surface-assisted reactions provide a platform for creating ordered molecular structures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the thermal cyclotrimerisation of an alkyne-terminated borazine derivative on Au(111).
• To characterise the resulting nanoporous boron-nitrogen-carbon networks.
• To understand the preservation of borazine cores during network formation.

Main Methods:

• Deposition of alkyne-terminated borazine derivative on Au(111) surface.
• Thermally induced cyclotrimerisation reaction.
• Characterisation using scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).

Main Results:

• Formation of highly ordered nanoporous boron-nitrogen-carbon networks.
• Observation of regular BN-doped patterns within the networks.
• Confirmation of preserved borazine cores after thermal treatment, evidenced by STM and XPS.

Conclusions:

• Thermally induced cyclotrimerisation of borazine derivatives is an effective route to BN-doped carbon networks.
• The Au(111) surface facilitates the formation of ordered porous structures.
• Borazine cores remain intact, suggesting potential for functional materials.