a b s t r a c tThe processes of mechanical activation of a hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) and its reactivity upon interaction with hydrogen and water were investigated using X-ray, TEM, Microdiffraction, Dynamic Light Scattering, FTIR-spectroscopy, adsorption (BET). Initial h-BN samples were monocrystalline plates 70-80 nm thick. Mechanical treatment of h-BN is accompanied by plate splitting and formation of crystallographically oriented "rods." The rod thickness gradually diminishes to less than 5 nm. Specific surface area of the rods (400 m 2 /g), is found to be equal to the outer geometrical surface of rods. As nanocrystallites form "c" parameter of h-BN increases. When nanocrystallites are less than several nanometers in size, mechanical treatment results in BN amorphization; in this case specific surface of the system begins to decrease. Splitting of BN plates in the atmosphere of hydrogen is accompanied by the material hydrogenation and formation of B H and N H bonds. The amount of adsorbed hydrogen corresponds to monolayer filling. The amorphous part of activated BN interacts with water even at room temperature.
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