Currently, the hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), also called “white graphene,” has remarkable electronic, thermal, optical, mechanical, and chemical properties that are attractive for applications in polymer matrix composites, hydrogen storage, heterogeneous catalysis, and electrical devices. Various methods have been developed to fabricate h-BN. The current approach used to fabricate h-BN from boron trioxide and urea always results in contamination of the h-BN product with carbon/oxygen. Thus, discovering a facile way of mass producing high-purity h-BN remains a challenge. Herein, a simple yet highly efficient thermal treatment approach to large-scale fabrication of nanoporous h-BN with high yield, high purity, and high crystallinity is described using NaNH<sub>2</sub> and NaBH<sub>4</sub> as the oxygen- and carbon-free precursors. The unique properties of inorganic metal salts, i.e., high melting point and strong electrostatic interaction with carbon substrates, render this strategy suitable for the production of homogeneous h-BN/mesoporous carbon and h-BN/carbon nanotube heterostructures of high crystallinity, high h-BN dispersity, and with a strong interfacial effect. These unique features make them promising candidates for supercapacitor applications, resulting a significantly enhanced specific capacitance. This study provides new insight into the fabrication of high-purity h-BN and h-BN-based heterostructures, thus, expanding their application in the field of energy storage and transformation.

From highly purified boron nitride to boron nitride–based heterostructures: Inorganic precursor–based strategy

Macromolecular Chemistry: The Second Century

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ACS Spring 2020 National Meeting & Expo

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.