Boron Nitride Sheets Emit Deep UV Light | Science News
Researchers have demonstrated that layered hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) can efficiently emit deep ultraviolet (DUV) light, a capability with potential applications ranging from data storage to medical treatments. The findings, published in Science in 2014, detail the material’s ability to produce light around 200 nanometers, a wavelength notoriously difficult to achieve with conventional materials.
The recent work builds on earlier investigations into the unique optical properties of hBN. A study published in March 2026 in Nature characterized the complex dielectric function of hBN in the DUV regime, revealing a natural hyperbolic dispersion induced by strong, anisotropic exciton resonances. This hyperbolic dispersion, the researchers found, supports hyperbolic exciton polaritons (HEP) with high directionality and slow group velocity.
The ability to generate DUV light is significant because of its diverse applications. According to the 2014 Science article, DUV light is essential for information storage technology, environmental protection, and medical treatment. The current research suggests hBN could serve as a platform for nanophotonic applications specifically within the technologically crucial DUV spectral range.
Scientists are also exploring methods to optimize hBN-based DUV detectors. A study published in 2024 detailed the use of dry-wet transfer techniques to prepare boron nitride nanoribbon (BNNR) films for use in DUV detectors, investigating the effects of varying film areas and thicknesses on detector performance. Researchers have also reported a method for synthesizing low-dimensional hBN, studying light emission characteristics due to defects within the material, as reported in PMC in 2023.
The Nature study utilized all-optical imaging spectroscopic ellipsometry (ISE) to characterize the dielectric function of hBN, revealing a potential type-II hyperbolic window in the DUV regime. Data supporting the findings are available in the supplementary information file associated with the publication, and raw data can be requested from the corresponding authors.