Anisotropic thermo-mechanical response of layered hexagonal boron nitride and black phosphorus: application as a simultaneous pressure and temperature sensor

Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) and black phosphorus (bP) are crystalline materials that can be seen as ordered stackings of two-dimensional layers, which lead to outstanding anisotropic physical properties. The knowledge of the thermal equations of state of hBN and bP is of great interest in the field of 2D materials for a better understanding of the anisotropic thermo-mechanical properties and exfoliation mechanism of these materials. Despite several theoretical and experimental studies, important uncertainties remain in the determination of the thermoelastic parameters of hBN and bP. Here, we report accurate thermal expansion and compressibility measurements along the individual crystallographic axes, using in situ high-temperature and high-pressure high-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction. In particular, we have quantitatively determined the subtle variations of the in-plane thermo-mechanical parameters by subjecting these materials to hydrostatic pressure conditions and collecting a large number of data points in small pressure and temperature increments. Based on the anisotropic behavior of bP, we propose the use of this material as sensor for the simultaneous determination of pressure and temperature in the range 0-5 GPa, 298-1700 K.