Atomically‐Precise Texturing of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanostripes

Abstract

Abstract Monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) is attracting considerable attention because of its potential applications in areas such as nano‐ and opto‐electronics, quantum optics and nanomagnetism. However, the implementation of such functional hBN demands precise lateral nanostructuration and integration with other two‐dimensional materials, and hence, novel routes of synthesis beyond exfoliation. Here, a disruptive approach is demonstrated, namely, imprinting the lateral pattern of an atomically stepped one‐dimensional template into a hBN monolayer. Specifically, hBN is epitaxially grown on vicinal Rhodium (Rh) surfaces using a Rh curved crystal for a systematic exploration, which produces a periodically textured, nanostriped hBN carpet that coats Rh(111)‐oriented terraces and lattice‐matched Rh(337) facets with tunable width. The electronic structure reveals a nanoscale periodic modulation of the hBN atomic potential that leads to an effective lateral semiconductor multi‐stripe. The potential of such atomically thin hBN heterostructure for future applications is discussed.

Keywords

• boron nitride nanostripes
• photoemission
• scanning tunneling microscopy
• uniaxial electronic bands