Boron nitride monolayer growth on vicinal Ni(1 1 1) surfaces systematically studied with a curved crystal

Abstract

The structural and electronic properties of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) grown on stepped Ni surfaces are systematically investigated using a cylindrical Ni crystal as a tunable substrate. Our experiments reveal homogeneous hBN monolayer coating of the entire Ni curved surface, which in turn undergoes an overall faceting. The faceted system is defined by step-free hBN/Ni(1 1 1) terraces alternating with strongly tilted hBN/Ni(1 1 5) or hBN/Ni(1 1 0) nanostripes, depending on whether we have A-type or B-type vicinal surfaces, respectively. Such deep substrate self-organization is explained by both the rigidity of the hBN lattice and the lack of registry with Ni crystal planes in the vicinity of the (1 1 1) surface. The analysis of the electronic properties by photoemission and absorption spectroscopies reveal a weaker hBN/Ni interaction in (1 1 0)- and (1 1 5)-oriented facets, as well as an upward shift of the valence band with respect to the band position at the hBN/Ni(1 1 1) terrace.