Studies on Cryogenic Stability of Cryo-Exfoliated Two-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitride
摘要
The two-dimensional nano hexagonal nitride has a wide range of potential applications at high temperatures as well as at cryogenic conditions. It has numerous special features that set them apart from graphene and other inorganic graphene-like materials. In the present study, the structural changes in the two-dimensional (2D)-nanolayered hexagonal boron nitride (n-hBN) as well as conventional coarse micron grade hexagonal boron nitride (m-hBN) were examined at room temperature and cryogenic conditions. The hexagonal structure of hBN showed lattice expansion on cryo-milling of the m-hBN powder while transforming to 2D n-hBN. The cryo-milled 2D-structured n-hBN showed reversible changes in the lattice parameter on cooling to cryogenic temperatures from room temperature. Such structural changes in few-layered n-hBN are expected to induce altered mechanical behavior at cryogenic temperatures when compared to coarse-grade m-hBN. This study helps to understand the exfoliation behavior in cryogenic conditions.