New microscope makes invisible 2D material visible to the naked eye

Boron nitride atoms are arranged in a hexagonal lattice. PIC/ISTOCK

Researchers have developed a way to visualise boron nitride layers that are one atom thick. These ultrathin sheets are typically almost impossible to detect with standard optical microscopes.

The team used nonlinear microscopy with infrared light so that monolayers of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) light up brightly. Their approach resonantly drives a lattice vibration in hBN, producing a strong signal that not only makes the material visible but also reveals its crystal orientation.

This capability is significant for the large and thriving field of two-dimensional (2D) materials research and could support the development of new (opto-)electronic devices built by stacking 2D layers.

2D materials are crystalline substances made from a single layer of atoms, and their extreme thinness can produce unusual and useful properties. It was not until 2004 that the first isolated 2D layer was produced.

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