Hydroxylated boron nitride materials: from structures to functional applications

Abstract

Functionalization of boron nitride (BN) materials with hydroxyls has attracted great attention to accomplish better performances at micro- and nanoscale. BN surface hydroxylation, in fact, induces a change in properties and allows expanding the fields of application. In this review, we have summarized the state-of-the-art in developing hydroxylated bulk and nanoscale BN materials. The different synthesis routes to develop hydroxyl BN have been critically discussed. What emerges is the great variety of possible strategies to achieve BN hydroxylation, which, in turn, represents one of the most suitable methods to improve the solubility of BN nanomaterials. The improved stability of BN solutions creates conditions for producing high-quality nanocomposites. Furthermore, new interesting optical and electronic properties may arise from the functionalization by OH groups as displayed by a wide range of both theoretical and experimental studies. After the presentation of the most significant systems and methodologies, we question of future perspective and important trends of the next generation BN materials as well as the possible areas of advanced research. Graphical abstract Hydroxyl functionalization of boron nitride materials is a key method to control and enhance the properties and design new functional applications.

2D Boron Nitride Heterostructures: Recent Advances and Future Challenges

“…h‐BN can be formed in a large variety of different nanostructures from 3D to 0D, such as monolayers, nanoribbons, nanotubes, nanodots, nanocages, and fullerene‐like molecules. [ 7,8 ] In particular, h‐BN can be easily exfoliated from bulk crystals down to few layers or deposited as monolayer using different methods. [ 9 ] h‐BN nanosheets have been obtained by developing both top‐down and bottom‐up routes even if controlling the number of layers, their dimension and the formation of defects remains a technological challenge.…”

Enhanced through‐plane thermal conductivity of polypropylene composite using boron nitride/SiO2/glass fiber

“…Oxidation or hydroxylation of h‐BN in air has been reported. [ 20,23–26 ] Li et al found that oxidation of h‐BN occurred at 850°C. [ 25 ] Even though the thermodynamic reaction temperature between h‐BN and oxygen is above 800°C, oxidation of h‐BN at 600°C has been reported due to some defects on the surface of h‐BN during the initial stage of oxidation.…”

Methods of hexagonal boron nitride exfoliation and its functionalization: covalent and non-covalent approaches

“…Moreover, it has been reported that the covalent functionalization of BNNSs can be performed based on an oxidation tactic that produces several defect sites, which was carried out via direct functionalization at chemical interfaces. [169][170][171][172] However, although this tactic is capable of obtaining extremely stable dispersions of BNNSs, the creation of numerous defect sites on BNNSs due to vigorous oxidation results in reduced lateral sizes and the degradation of the inherent performance of BNNSs. 173,174 Earlier, He, Holzinger et al demonstrated the covalent functionalization of graphene and CNTs using nitrene chemistry.…”