A novel Fe/S catalyst approach used to successfully synthesize 2D hexagonal boron-nitride structures

Abstract

The synthesis of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) method using a novel catalyst (Fe/S) was explored in the present study. The Fe/S catalyst was employed to enhance the yield and quality of the nanosheets. Iron serves as the primary catalyst, whereas sulfur acts as a promoter, modulating the catalytic activity and selectivity of the process. Furthermore, sulfur suppresses the surface mobility of iron, preventing excessive nanoparticle growth and maintaining an optimal size range for nanosheets nucleation. The efficient production of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (h-BNNS-Ox) was accomplished by using the oxidative method and subsequent exfoliation with tip ultrasound. The materials were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy (STEM-EELS), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results show that the h-BNNS-Ox sample is a multifunctional material, as it has few layers, and in addition, the hydroxyl groups linked to the structure of the nanosheets enable covalent bonding with other functional groups of interest, which enhances and expands its application in various segments.