  The structural and electronic properties of hexagonal boron nitride (hBN)
grown on stepped Ni surfaces are systematically investigated using a
cylindrical Ni crystal as a tunable substrate. Our experiments reveal
homogeneous hBN monolayer coating of the entire Ni curved surface, which in
turn undergoes an overall faceting. The faceted system is defined by step-free
hBN/Ni(111) terraces alternating with strongly tilted hBN/Ni(115) or
hBN/Ni(110) nanostripes, depending on whether we have A-type or B-type vicinal
surfaces, respectively. Such deep substrate self-organization is explained by
both the rigidity of the hBN lattice and the lack of registry with Ni crystal
planes in the vicinity of the (111) surface. The analysis of the electronic
properties by photoemission and absorption spectroscopies reveal a weaker
hBN/Ni interaction in (110)- and (115)-oriented facets, as well as an upward
shift of the valence band with respect to the band position at the hBN/Ni(111)
terrace.
