Synthesis and characterization of oriented graphitelike B–C–N hybrid

In order to clarify the structure of graphitelike B–C–N hybrid thin films, borazine (B3N3H6) ion plasma was implanted in highly oriented pyrolytic graphite at 800°C and room temperature. The films were characterized in situ by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and near-edge x-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS) using linearly polarized synchrotron radiation. The XPS study suggested that B atoms in the deposited films display in a wide variety of chemical bonds, e.g., B–C, B–N, and B–C–N. In the polarization-dependent NEXAFS spectra at the B K edge, the resonance peaks from B 1s to both π*-like and σ*-like orbitals are clearly observed, which suggest the existence of sp2 configuration around the boron atoms. On the basis of the graphitelike polarization dependencies observed in the B 1s→π* resonance peaks for B–C–N films deposited at 800°C, we conclude that the highly oriented graphitelike B–C–N hybrids are stable at low boron content.