Abstract
Two-dimensional boron, borophene, was realized in recent experiments but still lacks an adequate growth theory for guiding its controlled synthesis. Combining ab initio calculations and experimental characterization, we study edges and growth kinetics of borophene on Ag(111). In equilibrium, the borophene edges are distinctly reconstructed with exceptionally low energies, in contrast to those of other two-dimensional materials. Away from equilibrium, sequential docking of boron feeding species to the reconstructed edges tends to extend the given lattice out of numerous polymorphic structures. Furthermore, each edge can grow via multiple energy pathways of atomic row assembly due to variable boron-boron coordination. These pathways reveal different degrees of anisotropic growth kinetics, shaping borophene into diverse elongated hexagonal islands in agreement with experimental observations in terms of morphology as well as edge orientation and periodicity. These results further suggest that ultrathin borophene ribbons can be grown at low temperature and low boron chemical potential.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | eaax0246 |
| Journal | Science Advances |
| Volume | 5 |
| Issue number | 9 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Sep 27 2019 |
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ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Physics and Astronomy (miscellaneous)
- General
Cite this
Near-equilibrium growth from borophene edges on silver. / Zhang, Zhuhua; Mannix, Andrew J.; Liu, Xiaolong; Hu, Zhili; Guisinger, Nathan P.; Hersam, Mark C.; Yakobson, Boris I.
In: Science Advances, Vol. 5, No. 9, eaax0246, 27.09.2019.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Near-equilibrium growth from borophene edges on silver
AU - Zhang, Zhuhua
AU - Mannix, Andrew J.
AU - Liu, Xiaolong
AU - Hu, Zhili
AU - Guisinger, Nathan P.
AU - Hersam, Mark C.
AU - Yakobson, Boris I.
PY - 2019/9/27
Y1 - 2019/9/27
N2 - Two-dimensional boron, borophene, was realized in recent experiments but still lacks an adequate growth theory for guiding its controlled synthesis. Combining ab initio calculations and experimental characterization, we study edges and growth kinetics of borophene on Ag(111). In equilibrium, the borophene edges are distinctly reconstructed with exceptionally low energies, in contrast to those of other two-dimensional materials. Away from equilibrium, sequential docking of boron feeding species to the reconstructed edges tends to extend the given lattice out of numerous polymorphic structures. Furthermore, each edge can grow via multiple energy pathways of atomic row assembly due to variable boron-boron coordination. These pathways reveal different degrees of anisotropic growth kinetics, shaping borophene into diverse elongated hexagonal islands in agreement with experimental observations in terms of morphology as well as edge orientation and periodicity. These results further suggest that ultrathin borophene ribbons can be grown at low temperature and low boron chemical potential.
AB - Two-dimensional boron, borophene, was realized in recent experiments but still lacks an adequate growth theory for guiding its controlled synthesis. Combining ab initio calculations and experimental characterization, we study edges and growth kinetics of borophene on Ag(111). In equilibrium, the borophene edges are distinctly reconstructed with exceptionally low energies, in contrast to those of other two-dimensional materials. Away from equilibrium, sequential docking of boron feeding species to the reconstructed edges tends to extend the given lattice out of numerous polymorphic structures. Furthermore, each edge can grow via multiple energy pathways of atomic row assembly due to variable boron-boron coordination. These pathways reveal different degrees of anisotropic growth kinetics, shaping borophene into diverse elongated hexagonal islands in agreement with experimental observations in terms of morphology as well as edge orientation and periodicity. These results further suggest that ultrathin borophene ribbons can be grown at low temperature and low boron chemical potential.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85072792643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85072792643&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1126/sciadv.aax0246
DO - 10.1126/sciadv.aax0246
M3 - Article
C2 - 31598552
AN - SCOPUS:85072792643
VL - 5
JO - Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Physics
JF - Indian Journal of Pure and Applied Physics
SN - 0019-5596
IS - 9
M1 - eaax0246
ER -