Surface-diffusion mechanism for synthesis of substrate-free and catalyst-free boron nitride nanosheets

This study presents an innovative surface-diffusion mechanism for the growth of substrate-free and catalyst-free boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) by annealing an ammonium borate hydroxide hydrate precursor in a NH3 chemical vapor deposition system. At elevated temperatures, part of NH4B5O8 slowly decomposes and forms B2O3, and flowing NH3 gradually diffuses to the B2O3 surface to form vertically aligned BNNSs. The lateral dimension and...