Boron Nitride Nanomesh: Functionality from a Corrugated Monolayer

Abstract

A nanotemplate surface that functions as a regular array of traps for molecules such as naphthalocyanine (see picture) is provided by a nanomesh of hexagonal BN on Rh(111), which has now been identified as a single, complete monolayer. The 2-nm-sized pores form at regions where the layer binds strongly to the underlying metal, while the regular network of mesh wires corresponds to regions where the layer is not bonded to the substrate.