Quantum calculations performed by researchers from the University of Surrey have allowed scientists to discover new "phases" of two-dimensional (2D) material that could be used to develop the next generation of fuel-cells devices.
Schematic illustrating the epitaxial growth of h-BN by chemical vapor deposition: a gaseous precursor (e.g. borazine, B 3 N 3 H 6 ) is brought into contact with a (hot) catalyst surface (Ru), triggering the chemical reactions such as breaking of the borazine rings and dehydrogenation, followed by the assembly of the epitaxial overlayer. Credit: Nanoscale Horizons (2022). DOI: 10.1039/D2NH00353H The calculations aided Graz University of Technology's research into the growth of one of the most promising 2D materials, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)—which has a honeycomb crystal structure almost identical to that of the most famous 2D material, graphene. Dr. Anton Tamtögl, the project lead from Graz University of Technology, says that "the nanoporous phases discovered during our research are not of purely academic interest—they offer the potential for applications such as sensor materials, nanoreactors, and membranes. This work illustrates that fundamental physics and chemistry offer routes to truly relevant nanotechnology applications." Ultra-thin 2D materials are frequently grown…