Formation of single layer h-BN on Pd(111)

The structure of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on Pd(111) was studied with low energy electron diffraction (LEED), photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM). h-BN forms flat monolayers on the Pd(111) surface in contrast to Rh(111) where a complex self-assembled double layer structure, the nanomesh [M. Corso, W. Auwarter, M. Muntwiler, A. Tamai, T. Greber, J. Osterwalder, Science 303 (2004) 217], appears. The LEED patterns reveal a dominating 10 x 10 h-BN superstructure, with a second, distinct structure rotated by 30 degrees and further azimuthally randomly oriented h-BN overlayers. This is consistent with STM images which show several different Moire patterns associated with different rotation angles of the overlayer. Additionally the use of thin Pd(111) films instead of single crystal substrates was studied. No significant differences in the h-BN film quality were found. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.