Influence of Air, Oxygen, Nitrogen and Argon on 400 nm Luminescence in Hexagonal Boron Nitride

The investigation is devoted to the influence of different surrounding gases on the defect-related luminescence in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN). The photoluminescence spectra of hBN powder were measured for an hBN sample placed in different surroundings formed by ambient air, vacuum, as well as oxygen, nitrogen and argon gases. It was found that the 400 nm luminescence caused by native defects in hBN is sensitive to the oxygen gas and ambient air. Presence of oxygen gas around hBN considerably reduces the intensity of this luminescence. The results evidence that hBN powder can successfully be applied as the material for oxygen sensors.