Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are structurally and mechanically similar to carbon nanotubes (CNTs). In contrast, BNNTs exhibit unique properties for being electrically insulating and optically transparent due to the polarized boron nitride bonds. All these properties have prevented the use of BNNTs for energy harvesting and electronic devices for more than 25 years. During the past few years, researchers have started to demonstrate a series of novel applications of BNNTs based on unique properties not found on CNTs. For example, these novel applications include osmotic power harvesting using the charged inner surfaces of BNNTs, room-temperature single-electron transistors using insulating BNNTs as the tunneling channels, high-brightness fluorophores that can be 1000-times brighter than regular dyes, and transistors based on Tellurium atomic chains filled inside BNNTs. We have reviewed some of these emerging applications and provided our perspective for future work.

Molybdenum disulfide quantum dots (MoS2 QDs) are a unique class of zero-dimensional (0D) van der Waals nanostructures. MoS2 QDs have attracted significant attention due to their unique optical, electronic, chemical, and biological properties due to the presence of edge states of these van der Waals QDs for various chemical functionalization. Their novel properties have enabled applications in many fields, including advanced electronics, electrocatalysis, and biomedicine. In this review, the various synthesis techniques, the novel properties, and the wide applications of MoS2 quantum dots are discussed in detail.

Boron nitride quantum dots (BNQDs) have gained increasing attention for their versatile fluorescent, optoelectronic, chemical, and biochemical properties. During the past few years, significant progress has been demonstrated, started from theoretical modeling to actual application. Many interesting properties and applications have been reported, such as excitation-dependent emission (and, in some cases, non-excitation dependent), chemical functionalization, bioimaging, phototherapy, photocatalysis, chemical, and biological sensing. An overview of this early-stage research development of BNQDs is presented in this article. We have prepared un-bias assessments on various synthesis methods, property analysis, and applications of BNQDs here, and provided our perspective on the development of these emerging nanomaterials for years to come.

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