Recent advances and perspective on boron nitride nanotubes: From synthesis to applications

Abstract

Boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) are emerging nanomaterials with analogous structures and similarly impressive mechanical properties to carbon nanotubes (CNTs), but unique chemistry and complimentary multifunctional properties, including higher thermal stability, electrical insulation, optical transparency, neutron absorption capability, and piezoelectricity. Over the past decade, advances in synthesis have made BNNTs more broadly accessible to the nanomaterials and other research communities, removing a major barrier to their utilization and research. Therefore, the field is poised to grow rapidly and see the emergence of BNNT applications ranging from electronics to aerospace materials. A key challenge, that is being gradually overcome, is the development of manufacturing processes to make “neat” BNNT materials. This overview highlights the history and current status of the field, providing both an introduction to this Focus Issue—BNNTs: Synthesis to Applications—as well as a perspective on advances, challenges, and opportunities for this emerging material. Graphical abstract

Low-Temperature Triazine Functionalization of Boron Nitride Nanotubes for Applications from Drug Delivery to Advanced Composites

“…13,15 These exceptional properties make BNNTs excellent candidates for future high-performance multifunctional composites and other engineering applications. 16 Their wide bandgap and high thermal conductivity shows promise in nanoelectronic applications, where electrical insulation and fast heat dissipation are required. 17 BNNTs have potential for self-cleaning and anticorrosive surfaces.…”

“…Like carbon nanotubes (CNTs), BNNTs exhibit high mechanical strength and stiffness, high thermal and chemical stability, and low density . Beyond these properties, BNNTs display many additional extraordinary properties that set them apart from other nanomaterials, including a wide bandgap (>6.0 eV), − biocompatibility, − transparency in the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum, thermal neutron absorption capabilities, ,, single deep ultraviolet light emission, and piezoelectric behavior. , These exceptional properties make BNNTs excellent candidates for future high-performance multifunctional composites and other engineering applications . Their wide bandgap and high thermal conductivity shows promise in nanoelectronic applications, where electrical insulation and fast heat dissipation are required .…”

Enhancement of Columbic Efficiency and Capacity of Li-Ion Batteries using a Boron Nitride Nanotubes-Dispersed-Electrolyte with High Ionic Conductivity

“…20 The structural advantage of BNNT for ion transport in fluid media can also be deduced by its hollow and cylindrical geometry (Figure S1b, Supporting Information) that allows fast movement of ions at the surface as well as inside the nanotubes under osmotic, electric, chemical forcing, and their combinations. 26 The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR, Figure S2, Supporting Information) for the calcinated BNNT (850 °C) conferred the presence of the −OH functional group (3216 cm −1 ). The −OH functional groups on the BNNT surface serve as interaction sites for the Li-ions providing a channelized pathway for the Li-ion transference during the charge/discharge cycles.…”

“…The boron-based additives have been a topic of interest for LIBs. , Inspired by the promising applications of the hexagonal boron nitrides (h-BN), , boron nitride nanotubes (BNNT) have been attracted as a viable advanced multifunctional material. − To date, BNNT has been explored as a protective coating to the separators to reduce the cell short circuit, enhance thermal stability and Li + conductivity. , The arrangement of BNNT on the separator results in enhanced Li + transport, producing a high capacity and negligible change in electrical resistivity. However, incorporating BNNT as an additive into a conventional electrolyte has not been explored.…”

“…The dispersion of BNNT into electrolytes enhances the confinement effect of the anions at the defect sites. − In contrast to the conventional electrolytes, Li + are strongly coordinated with the solvent molecules resulting in comparatively lower capacity and cycle stability also, the Lewis acid interaction between the anions/solvent and the BNNT may facilitate the dissociation of Li + and accelerate Li + transport leading to high Li + transference number . The structural advantage of BNNT for ion transport in fluid media can also be deduced by its hollow and cylindrical geometry (Figure S1b, Supporting Information) that allows fast movement of ions at the surface as well as inside the nanotubes under osmotic, electric, chemical forcing, and their combinations . The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR, Figure S2, Supporting Information) for the calcinated BNNT (850 °C) conferred the presence of the −OH functional group (3216 cm –1 ).…”