X-ray Absorption Study of Pulsed Laser Deposited Boron Nitride Films

B and N K-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements have been performed on three BN thin films grown on Si substrates using ion-assisted pulsed laser deposition. Comparison of the films' spectra to those of several single-phase BN powder standards shows that the films consist primarily of $sp^2$ bonds. Other features in the films' spectra suggest the presence of secondary phases, possibly cubic or rhombohedral BN. Films grown at higher deposition rates and higher ion-beam voltages are found to be more disordered, in agreement with previous work.