Atomically thin hexagonal boron nitride probed by ultrahigh-resolution transmission electron microscopy

Nasim Alem, Rolf Erni, Christian Kisielowski, Marta D. Rossell, Will Gannett, A. Zettl

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

453 Scopus citations

Abstract

We present a method to prepare monolayer and multilayer suspended sheets of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), using a combination of mechanical exfoliation and reactive ion etching. Ultrahigh-resolution transmission electron microscope imaging is employed to resolve the atoms, and intensity profiles for reconstructed phase images are used to identify the chemical nature (boron or nitrogen) of every atom throughout the sample. Reconstructed phase images are distinctly different for h-BN multilayers of even or odd number. Unusual triangular defects and zigzag and armchair edge reconstructions are uniquely identified and characterized.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number155425
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume80
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - Oct 12 2009

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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