Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheets Grown via Chemical Vapor Deposition for Silver Protection

In this study, hexagonal boron nitride nano-sheets (h-BNNS) have been grown on polycrystalline silversubstrates via chemical vapor deposition (CVD) usingammonia borane as a precursor. The h-BNNS are of few-atomic-layer thickness and form continuous coverage over thewhole Ag substrate. The atomically thin coating posesnegligible interference to the reflectivity in the UV−visiblerange. The nanosheet coating also proves very effective inprotecting Ag foil chemically. In contrast to bare Ag foil, thecoated foil displayed only minor decolorization under highconcentration of H2S. The study indicates that h-BNNS canbe a promising protective coating for Ag based items such as jewelry or mirrors used in astronomical telescopes.