Fabrication of Boron Nitride Nanosheets by Exfoliation

Nanomaterials with layered structures, with their intriguing properties, are of great research interest nowadays. As one of the primary two‐dimensional nanomaterials, the hexagonal boron nitride nanosheet (BNNS, also called white graphene), which is an analogue of graphene, possesses various attractive properties, such as high intrinsic thermal conductivity, excellent chemical and thermal stability, and electrical insulation properties. After being discovered, it has been one of the most intensively studied two‐dimensional non‐carbon nanomaterials and has been applied in a wide range of applications. To support the exploration of applications of BNNSs, exfoliation, as one of the most promising approaches to realize large‐scale production of BNNSs, has been intensively investigated. In this review, methods to yield BNNSs by exfoliation will be summarized and compared with other potential fabrication methods of BNNSs. In addition, the future prospects of the exfoliation of h‐BN will also be discussed.     

Functionalization and Dispersion of Hexagonal Boron Nitride (h‐BN) Nanosheets Treated with Inorganic Reagents

A mixture of bulk hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) with hydrazine, 30 % H₂O₂, HNO₃/H₂SO₄, or oleum was heated in an autoclave at 100 °C to produce functionalized h‐BN. The product formed stable colloid solutions in water (0.26–0.32 g L ^?1) and N,N‐dimethylformamide (0.34–0.52 g L ^?1) upon mild ultrasonication. The yield of “soluble” h‐BN reached about 70 wt %. The dispersions contained few‐layered h‐BN nanosheets with lateral dimensions in the order of several hundred nanometers. The functionalized dispersible h‐BN was characterized by IR spectroscopy, X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, UV/Vis spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction (XRD), dynamic light scattering (DLS), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM). It is shown that h‐BN preserves its hexagonal structure throughout the functionalization procedure. Its exfoliation into thin platelets upon contact with solvents is probably owing to the attachment of hydrophilic functionalities.     

氮化硼纳米片在重防腐涂层中的应用进展

氮化硼纳米片也被称为"白色石墨烯",是一种重要的纳米填料,具有优异的机械性、导热性、耐磨性、阻隔性、疏水性,同时也是一种新兴的性能优良的绝缘材料.被广泛应用于重防腐涂层、润滑剂、传感器等领域.基于氮化硼纳米片在金属腐蚀防护领域巨大的应用前景,本综述将从氮化硼纳米片的制备及表面官能化、氮化硼薄膜防护涂层、氮化硼纳米片/有机防护涂层、氮化硼纳米片-无机复合材料/有机防护涂层这四部分进行系统总结,重点围绕氮化硼纳米片在有机涂层中均匀分散能力以及金属腐蚀防护能力等方面等进行详细分析和介绍,同时对氮化硼纳米片基防腐涂料未来发展进行了展望.     

Controlled Gas Exfoliation of Boron Nitride into Few‐Layered Nanosheets

The controlled exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) into single‐ or few‐layered nanosheets remains a grand challenge and becomes the bottleneck to essential studies and applications of h‐BN. Here, we present an efficient strategy for the scalable synthesis of few‐layered h‐BN nanosheets (BNNS) using a novel gas exfoliation of bulk h‐BN in liquid N₂ (L‐N₂). The essence of this strategy lies in the combination of a high temperature triggered expansion of bulk h‐BN and the cryogenic L ‐N₂ gasification to exfoliate the h‐BN. The produced BNNS after ten cycles (BNNS‐10) consisted primarily of fewer than five atomic layers with a high mass yield of 16–20 %. N₂ sorption and desorption isotherms show that the BNNS‐10 exhibited a much higher specific surface area of 278 m² g^?1 than that of bulk BN (10 m² g^?1). Through the investigation of the exfoliated intermediates combined with a theoretical calculation, we found that the huge temperature variation initiates the expansion and curling of the bulk h‐BN. Subseqently, the L ‐N₂ penetrates into the interlayers of h‐BN along the curling edge, followed by an immediate drastic gasification of L ‐N₂, further peeling off h‐BN. This novel gas exfoliation of high surface area BNNS not only opens up potential opportunities for wide applications, but also can be extended to produce other layered materials in high yields.     

Theoretical Study on Zigzag Boron Nitride Nanowires

In this work, two kinds of BN-nanowires (BNnws): a-BNnw and d-BNnw, respectively composed of azo (N−N) and diboron (B−B) bonds, are proposed with the aid of the first-principles simulations. Their structural stabilities are carefully verified from the energetics, lattice dynamics, and thermodynamic perspectives. Similar to the other common boron nitride polymorph, the a-BNnw and d-BNnw are semiconductors with relatively wide band gaps of 3.256 and 4.631 eV at the HSE06 level, respectively. The corresponding projected DOS patterns point out that their band edges are composed of different atomic species, which can help with the separation of their excitons. The band gaps can be manipulated monotonically by axial strains within the elastic ranges. The major charge carriers are electron holes. Significantly, a-BNnw possesses very high carrier mobilities around 0.44×10⁴ cm² V⁻¹ s⁻¹.     

One‐Step Exfoliation and Fluorination of Boron Nitride Nanosheets and a Study of Their Magnetic Properties

A novel, simple, and efficient method for the preparation of the fluorinated hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets (F‐BNNSs) and the corresponding magnetic properties is presented. A one‐step route is used to exfoliate and fluorinate the BNNSs by ammonium fluoride (NH₄F) from hexagonal boron nitride (h‐BN) powder. Through related instrument characterizations and theoretical calculations, we confirm that large‐area and few‐layer F‐BNNSs were successfully produced by this method, which can be attributed to a fluorination‐assisted exfoliation mechanism from the bulk h‐BN in NH₄F. More intriguingly, we initially verified that the as‐prepared F‐BNNSs exhibit ferromagnetic characteristics, which would have good potential applications in spintronic devices.     

氮化硼诱导聚乙烯分子结晶的分子动力学模拟

采用分子动力学方法(MD)研究熔体条件下聚乙烯分子在氮化硼纳米管表面和氮化硼片层表面的结晶机理。通过对聚乙烯分子结晶过程中晶体构象的演变、空间内分子分布的变化以及分子扩散特性的研究,从微观角度比较了两种结构氮化硼纳米材料对聚乙烯结晶的影响。结果表明一维结构的氮化硼纳米管诱导聚乙烯结晶的能力远高于二维片层状的氮化硼,说明纳米材料的维度影响着高分子材料的结晶性能。     

Boron Nitride Nanosheets Improve Sensitivity and Reusability of Surface‐Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy

Surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is a useful multidisciplinary analytic technique. However, it is still a challenge to produce SERS substrates that are highly sensitive, reproducible, stable, reusable, and scalable. Herein, we demonstrate that atomically thin boron nitride (BN) nanosheets have many unique and desirable properties to help solve this challenge. The synergic effect of the atomic thickness, high flexibility, stronger surface adsorption capability, electrical insulation, impermeability, high thermal and chemical stability of BN nanosheets can increase the Raman sensitivity by up to two orders, and in the meantime attain long‐term stability and extraordinary reusability not achievable by other materials. These advances will greatly facilitate the wider use of SERS in many fields.     

Li2 Trapped inside Tubiform [n] Boron Nitride Clusters (n=4–8): Structures and First Hyperpolarizability

The geometries and electronic properties of tubiform [n] boron nitride clusters entrapping Li₂ (Li₂@BN‐cluster(n,0); n=4–8), obtained by doping BN‐cluster(n,0) with Li₂ molecules, are investigated by means of DFT. The effects of tube diameter n on the dipole moment μ₀, static polarizability α₀, and first hyperpolarizability β₀ are elucidated. Both the dipole moment and polarizability increase with increasing tube diameter, whereas variation of the static first hyperpolarizability with tube diameter is not monotonic; β₀ follows the order 1612 (n=4)<3112 (n=5)<5534 (n=7)<8244 (n=6)<12 282 a.u. (n=8). In addition, the natural bond orbital (NBO) charges show that charge transfer takes place from the Li₂ molecule to the BN cluster, except for BN‐cluster(8,0) with larger tube diameter. Since the large‐diameter tubular BN‐cluster(8,0) can trap the excess electrons of the Li₂ molecule, Li₂@BN‐cluster(8,0) can be considered to be a novel electride compound.     

Oxygen Functionalization of Hexagonal Boron Nitride on Ni(111)

The interaction of single-layer hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on Ni(111) with molecular oxygen from a supersonic molecular beam led to a covalently bonded molecular oxygen species, which was identified as being between a superoxide and a peroxide. This is a rare example of an activated adsorption process leading to a molecular adsorbate. The amount of oxygen functionalization depended on the kinetic energy of the molecular beam. For a kinetic energy of 0.7 eV, an oxygen coverage of 0.4 ML was found. Near-edge X-ray adsorption fine structure (NEXAFS) spectroscopy revealed a stronger bond of h-BN to the Ni(111) substrate in the presence of the covalently bound oxygen species. Oxygen adsorption also led to a shift of the valence bands to lower binding energies. Subsequent temperature-programmed X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy revealed that the oxygen boron bonds are stable up to approximately 580 K, when desorption, and simultaneously, etching of h-BN set in. The experimental results were substantiated by density functional theory calculations, which provided insight to the adsorption geometry, the adsorption energy and the reaction pathway.     

A Boron Nitride Nanosheets Composite Membrane for a Long‐Life Zinc‐Based Flow Battery

The capability to maintain a constant system temperature is vital in nature, since it endows the system with enhanced lifetime. This trait also works for zinc‐based batteries, because their cycle‐life is limited by notorious zinc dendrite/accumulation, which are highly affected by the inhomogeneous distribution of temperature on electrode and relatively low mechanical strength of membrane. Herein, boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) with high mechanical strength serving as heat‐porter are introduced onto a porous substrate to enable uniform deposition of zinc and further a zinc‐based flow battery with long‐cycle life. The results indicate that BNNSs can effectively adjust the deposited zinc from needle‐like to French fries‐like morphology, thus affording the battery with a stable performance for nearly 500 cycles at 80 mA cm^?2. Most importantly, an energy efficiency of above 80 % can be obtained even at 200 mA cm^?2, which is by far the highest value ever reported among zinc‐based flow batteries.     

氮化硼纳米管气敏特性的理论研究

采用密度泛函理论计算研究了氮化硼纳米管及碳掺杂氮化硼纳米管对CH4, CO2, H2, H2O, N2, NH3, NO2, O2, F2等十余种气体小分子的气敏特性. 研究结果表明: 氮化硼纳米管对CH4, CO2, H2, H2O, N2, NH3等气体分子不敏感, 而对O2, NO2, F2等气体分子比较敏感. 虽然碳掺杂氮化硼纳米管可以明显地改变其表面的化学反应活性, 增强了气体分子与氮化硼纳米管之间的相互作用, 但是并不能明显地改变其对所研究气体分子的敏感性.     

Synergistic Effect of Boron Nitride and Carbon Domains in Boron Carbide Nitride Nanotube Supported Single-Atom Catalysts for Efficient Nitrogen Fixation

Developing the low-cost and efficient single-atom catalysts (SACs) for nitrogen reduction reaction (NRR) is of great importance while remains as a great challenge. The catalytic activity, selectivity and durability are all fundamentally related to the elaborate coordination environment of SACs. Using first-principles calculations, we investigated the SACs with single transition metal (TM) atom supported on defective boron carbide nitride nanotubes (BCNTs) as NRR electrocatalysts. Our results suggest that boron-vacancy defects on BCNTs can strongly immobilize TM atoms with large enough binding energy and high thermal/structural stability. Importantly, the synergistic effect of boron nitride (BN) and carbon domains comes up with the modifications of the charge polarization of single-TM-atom active site and the electronic properties of material, which has been proven to be the essential key to promote N₂ adsorption, activation, and reduction. Specifically, six SACs (namely V, Mn, Fe, Mo, Ru, and W atoms embedded into defective BCNTs) can be used as promising candidates for NRR electrocatalysts as their NRR activity is higher than the state-of-the art Ru(0001) catalyst. In particular, single Mo atom supported on defective BCNTs with large tube diameter possesses the highest NRR activity while suppressing the competitive hydrogen evolution reaction, with a low limiting potential of −0.62 V via associative distal path. This work suggests new opportunities for driving NH₃ production by carbon-based single-atom electrocatalysts under ambient conditions.     

Structures and Electromagnetic Properties of Boron Nitride Nanoribbons Doped with Transition Metals

Inspired by the recent discovery of the Ti-doped BN nanocages, here we report the design of novel boron nitride (BN) nanoribbons (BNNRs) doped with fourth-row transition metals (Sc−Cu) and the prediction of their structural and electromagnetic properties. First-principles calculations and ab initio molecular dynamics simulations show that Ti-doped BNNR possesses both thermodynamic and kinetic stability at high temperatures for synthesis of BN materials. Metal doping may make the nonmagnetic pristine BNNR ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic, depending on the metal. The doping with all considered metals reduces substantially the band gap of pristine BNNR. For example, Sc-doped BNNR is ferromagnetic with an indirect band gap of 1.18 eV, while V-doped nanoribbon is antiferromagnetic with a direct gap of 2.50 eV. Remarkably, the carrier mobility in both materials is significantly enhanced compared to the pristine BNNR. Our findings suggest that doping with different metals may endow BNNRs with versatile electronic and magnetic properties.     

利用水热合成方法制备正交氮化硼微晶

利用水热方法制备了正交氮化硼微晶, 于400 ℃时制备的氮化硼结晶质量较高, 主要物相为正交氮化硼(oBN). 在反应原料中加入水合肼和氯化铵都有利于样品结晶质量的改善和产率的提高. 在合成氮化硼反应过程中, 适当减慢反应体系的升温速率有利于提高oBN的结晶质量和产率, 但是当升温速率过慢时, oBN的稳定性有所降低, 立方氮化硼(cBN)的稳定性则在一定程度上得到提高. 此外, 反应过程中的原料配比对样品的物相及其结晶质量也有很大影响.     

硅掺杂的氮化硼纳米管对氯化氰吸附性能的理论研究

为了探索氮化硼纳米管(BNNT)在化学传感器件领域的潜在应用,我们利用密度泛函理论研究了(8,0)单壁BNNT和硅掺杂的(8,0)BNNT对毒性气体氯化氰分子(ClCN)的吸附性能.结果表明,硼位或氮位硅掺杂的BNNT,均对ClCN分子存在较强的化学吸附,而纯氮化硼纳米管对ClCN仅有较弱的物理吸附.态密度的计算进一步表明硅掺杂使纳米管费米能级附近的电子结构发生显著变化,由于杂化态的引入,使带隙明显减小,增强了对毒性ClCN分子的吸附敏感性.硅掺杂的BNNT有望成为检测毒性ClCN分子的潜在资源.     

硫辅助合成高孔隙率大孔氮化硼材料

采用硫粉辅助的方法合成了具有一定有序孔洞结构的三维大孔氮化硼材料,具有高比表面积(230 m2.g-1)和高孔隙率(85.6%),并呈现开孔结构。在未加入硫粉的情况下则只形成完全无序的三维大孔氮化硼,并且比表面积和孔隙率分别降至122m2.g-1和73.7%。热重测试表明两种产品均具有良好的抗氧化性能。本文还对这种大孔材料的形成过程和硫粉的作用进行了初步的探讨。