A Comprehensive Review on the Applications of Boron Nitride Nanomaterials in Membrane Fabrication and Modification

Abstract

Boron nitride (BN) presented enormous potential in the fabrication of novel membranes with superior separation efficiency. Researchers try to produce membranes with high solvent permeability and good rejection performance in industrial applications. In this review, the recent progress in the fabrication of BN-based membranes with different fabrication techniques and various applications is reviewed. Representative studies on applying BN-based membranes in gas separation, proton exchange, electrodialysis, and water filtration membranes to develop their performance and stability, induce antifouling characteristics, and decline the trade-off between selectivity and permeability, together with the explanation of their mechanisms, are discussed. Moreover, various methods of synthesis of BN allotropes are introduced. In addition, a brief review of simulation studies (molecular dynamic and density function theory) on theoretical studies of BN nanosheet membranes was performed. The authors hope that this review will arouse the active interest of many researchers in the further development of the BNs application in membrane science and technology.

A review of boron nitride-based photocatalysts for carbon dioxide reduction

“…DFT simulation has hitherto widely been used for detailed analysis of interactions between the surface of a catalyst like BN-based nanomaterials and CO 2 molecules. 165 The optimized configurations of CO 2 adsorption on B-BNNT as well as the profile of the Gibbs free energy changes for potential species produced during hydrogenation steps are demonstrated in Fig. 6a and b, respectively, using DFT simulations.…”

“…This range enables them to be excited in the visible-light region while the band gaps of pure BNNTs and BNNSs are outside this range. 115,117,165 These challenges along with technical challenges make it essential to tailor BN-based photocatalysts to industrial-scale applications, which will be briey discussed.…”

Structure and properties of polymer/two-dimensional nanomaterials studied via molecular dynamics simulation: a review

“…Practically, elastomers, 12 thermoplastics, 13 epoxy, 14 block copolymers 15 and hydro/ aerogels 16 are widely used as a matrix, which is inspired by their desirable wear and corrosion resistance, light quality, low density and high elasticity, flexibility, controlled surface and bulk properties and other unique physical properties. However, 2D nanosheets 17,18 tend to agglomerate due to the existence of strong van der Waals interactions and have poor compatibility with the matrix, which limits their exertion of excellent performance. Extensive research effort has been focused on attaining full potency of nanosheets and uniform transfer of superior properties of nanosheets to the host polymer matrix by surface modification methods, [19][20][21] which can be generally divided into chemical modification, physical modification and element doping modification.…”

Boron Nitride Microspheres via Pyrolysis of Polymerized Precursors

“…A spherical boron nitride (BN) has better fluidity than its natural sheetlike morphology . The use of spherical BN can improve the forming density of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) ceramics and enhance the mass transfer efficiency in a sintering process. , The BN spheres can easily achieve a well-uniform and highly dense filling within polymeric composites, thereby greatly enhancing the composite’s mechanical and thermal properties. − Thus, it is of great significance to develop reliable large-scale preparation of spherical BN for ameliorating the performance of h-BN-based ceramics and BN-filled polymer composites.…”

“… 2 , 3 The BN spheres can easily achieve a well-uniform and highly dense filling within polymeric composites, thereby greatly enhancing the composite’s mechanical and thermal properties. 4 − 6 Thus, it is of great significance to develop reliable large-scale preparation of spherical BN for ameliorating the performance of h-BN-based ceramics and BN-filled polymer composites.…”