The ACerS International Germany Chapter recently had the privilege of hosting a lecture by Hyeon Suk Shin, Distinguished Professor and director of the IBS Center for 2D Quantum Heterostructures at Sungkyunkwan University (SKKU).
Shin’s research focus is on 2D hexagonal boron nitride (hBN), a material that has remarkable optical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties, particularly its potential in the deep-ultraviolet region. A significant focus of the talk was on the establishment of achieving wafer-scale growth of hBN thin films to unlock their potential for industrial applications, with chemical vapor deposition (CVD) highlighted as a promising method for crafting scalable, high-quality films.
Shin outlined the latest strategies and growth mechanisms for producing wafer-scale, highly crystalline hBN, addressing the challenges and advances in this exciting area of research. The applications of hBN thin films were thoroughly discussed, showcasing their versatility in roles such as dielectric layers, encapsulation layers, and templates for the growth of other 2D materials or nanomaterials, among others.
Furthermore, Shin introduced amorphous BN (aBN) as a counterpart to crystalline hBN, emphasizing its sp2 hybridization, mechanical robustness, and excellent diffusion-barrier characteristics, alongside its ultra-low dielectric constant which showcases its potential in enhancing copper interconnects in integrated circuits.
This lecture, organized by the ACerS International Germany Chapter, not only illuminated the advancements in hBN research but also sparked discussions on the future directions of electronics and materials science, highlighting the ongoing efforts and potential breakthroughs in the field.