Recent Progress in Cubic Boron Nitride (c-BN) Fabrication by Pulsed Laser Annealing for Optoelectronic Applications.

Phase-pure crystalline cubic boron nitride (c-BN) thin films are of immense scientific and technical interest because of their suitable properties for optoelectronic and high-power applications, high thermal conductivity and hardness, chemical inertness to ferrous materials in high-temperature and caustic environments, and high optical transmittance over a broad wavelength range from the ultraviolet (UV) to the visible spectrum. However, the lack of controlled fabrication techniques for high-quality c-BN films significantly affects the reliable practical applications of this material. Recently, phase-pure single-crystal c-BN and a new phase of BN with unique properties, called quenched-BN (Q-BN), have been synthesized using a pulsed laser annealing (PLA) technique to overcome the current impediments in c-BN synthesis. This review paper comprehensively examines the current status of analytical research on the growth, characterization, and properties (optical and electrical) of c-BN films fabricated by different synthesis techniques, with a particular emphasis on the immensely promising PLA technique. In particular, the paper focuses on the processes used to obtain phase-pure c-BN films via epitaxial growth, characterization of defects and interfaces, and control of the structural, electrical, and optical properties of these films by controlling the growth parameters, including the laser–solid interaction for the direct conversion of nanocrystalline hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) into crystalline c-BN using the PLA technique. The latest developments in c-BN electronics are also discussed, with a focus on producing p-and n-type conductivity using different dopants to achieve dopant concentrations far beyond the retrograde thermodynamic solid solubility limits. Finally, the future prospects and possible applications in emerging areas are discussed, as well as the goals and guidelines for future research of PLA-grown c-BN films. A comprehensive overview of the properties, application, characterization, shortcomings, and future prospects of c-BN [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]