arXiv subjects

Arixin Bo

Publications and source records attributed to Arixin Bo.

4 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2026

Competition between vacancy creation and filling in defect-engineering of hBN

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has recently become the focus of intense research as a material that can host quantum emitters. It is known that such emission is related to point defects, but in order to conclusively correlate specific defects to their spectra, having control over the defect creation mechanism is required. Here, we prepare freestanding, monolayer hBN samples and irradiate them with ultra-low-energy (150 eV) Ar+ ions. The samples are characterized before and after irradiation via scanning transmission electron microscopy to assess the defect density and distribution. Contrary to what analytical potential molecular dynamics simulations have predicted, we predominantly observe boron single vacancies after ion irradiation, followed by double vacancies at half the count. Moreover, we also observe that vacancy filling with Si and C impurity atoms plays a more significant role in the created defects than previously assumed, potentially posing a problem for selective creation of quantum emitters in hBN.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2024

Defect-engineering hexagonal boron nitride using low-energy Ar+ irradiation

Monolayer hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) has recently become the focus of intense research as a material to host quantum emitters. Although it is well known that such emission is associated with point defects, so far no conclusive correlation between the spectra and specific defects has been demonstrated. Here, we prepare atomically clean suspended hBN samples and subject them to low-energy ion irradiation. The samples are characterized before and after irradiation via automated scanning transmission electron microscopy imaging to assess the defect concentrations and distributions. We find an intrinsic defect concentration of ca. 0.03/nm2 (with ca. 55% boron and 8% nitrogen single vacancies, 20% double vacancies and 16% more complex vacancy structures). To be able to differentiate between these and irradiation-induced defects, we create a significantly higher (but still moderate) concentration of defects with the ions (0.30/nm2), and now find ca. 55% boron and 12% nitrogen single vacancies, 14% double vacancies, and 18% more complex vacancy structures. The results demonstrate that already the simplest irradiation provides selectivity for the defect types, and open the way for future experiments to explore changing the selectivity by modifying the irradiation parameters.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2019

Atomic-Scale Investigation on the Ultra-large Bending Behaviours of Layered Sodium Titanate Nanowires

Study on mechanical properties of one-dimensional layered titanate nanomaterials is crucial since they demonstrate important applications in various fields. Here, we conducted ex situ and in situ atomic-scale investigation on bending properties of a kind of ceramic layered titanate (Na2Ti2O4(OH)2) nanowires in a transmission electron microscopy. The nanowires showed flexibility along <100> direction and could obtain a maximum bending strain of nearly 37%. By analysing the defect behaviours, the unique bending properties of this ceramic material was found to correlate with a novel arrangement of dislocations, an accessible nucleation and movement along the axial direction resulting from the weak electrostatic interaction between the TiO6 layers and the low b/a ratio. These results provide pioneering and key understanding on bending behaviours of layered titanate nanowire families and potentially other one-dimensional nanomaterials with layered crystalline structures.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2018

Underlying burning resistant mechanisms for titanium alloy

The "titanium fire" as produced during high pressure and friction is the major failure scenario for aero-engines. To alleviate this issue, Ti-V-Cr and Ti-Cu-Al series burn resistant titanium alloys have been developed. However, which burn resistant alloy exhibit better property with reasonable cost needs to be evaluated. This work unveils the burning mechanisms of these alloys and discusses whether burn resistance of Cr and V can be replaced by Cu, on which thorough exploration is lacking. Two representative burn resistant alloys are considered, including Ti14(Ti-13Cu-1Al-0.2Si) and Ti40(Ti-25V-15Cr-0.2Si)alloys. Compared with the commercial non-burn resistant titanium alloy, i.e., TC4(Ti-6Al-4V)alloy, it has been found that both Ti14 and Ti40 alloys form "protective" shields during the burning process. Specifically, for Ti14 alloy, a clear Cu-rich layer is formed at the interface between burning product zone and heat affected zone, which consumes oxygen by producing Cu-O compounds and impedes the reaction with Ti-matrix. This work has established a fundamental understanding of burning resistant mechanisms for titanium alloys. Importantly, it is found that Cu could endow titanium alloys with similar burn resistant capability as that of V or Cr, which opens a cost-effective avenue to design burn resistant titanium alloys.

physics.app-ph↗