Cheap, Gram-Scale Fabrication of BN Nanosheets via Substitution Reaction of Graphite Powders and Their Use for Mechanical Reinforcement of Polymers

Abstract

As one of the most important two-dimensional (2D) materials, BN nanosheets attracted intensive interest in the past decade. Although there are many methods suitable for the preparation of BN sheets, finding a cheap and nontoxic way for their mass and high-quality production is still a challenge. Here we provide a highly effective and cheap way to synthesize gram-scale-level well-structured BN nanosheets from many common graphite products as source materials. Single-crystalline multi-layered BN sheets have a mean lateral size of several hundred nanometers and a thickness ranging from 5 nm to 40 nm. Cathodoluminescence (CL) analysis shows that the structures exhibit a near band-edge emission and a broad emission band from 300 nm to 500 nm. Utilization of nanosheets for the reinforcement of polymers revealed that the Young's modulus of BN/PMMA composite had increased to 1.56 GPa when the BN's fraction was only 2 wt.%, thus demonstrating a 20% gain compared to a blank PMMA film. It suggests that the BN nanosheet is an ideal mechanical reinforcing material for polymers. In addition, this easy and nontoxic substitution method may provide a universal route towards high yields of other 2D materials.

Artificial nacre-like papers based on noncovalent functionalized boron nitride nanosheets with excellent mechanical and thermally conductive properties

“…In contrast to the BNNSs in polymer composites reported previously, [39][40][41][42] these NF-BNNSs are the matrix phase, acting the similar function of the "brick" in the 65 nacre structure. The alignment of the NF-BNNSs is successfully constructed by the link of interlayer bridges (PVA) in this nacrelike structure, resulting in excellent tensile strength and toughness.…”

Polycarbonate–hexagonal boron nitride composites with better dielectric properties for electronic applications

“…Figure 6a, b shows the effect of h-BN content on the dielectric constant and dissipation factor, respectively, as a function of frequency. It can be seen that the dielectric constant of pure PC is about 2.9 (at 1 MHz) while it varies between 3.9 and 4.1 for the pure BN depending upon frequency [6]. As the frequency increases dielectric constant of pure PC decreases.…”

“…Among above mentioned ceramics, hexagonal-BN (h-BN) is widely used by the researchers due to its low CTE, excellent thermal conductivity, good dielectric and mechanical properties. Its high electrical resistivity makes it an interesting reinforcement to achieve outstanding composites [4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14]. Additionally, the h-BN is comparatively softer and easily processable.…”

The electronic transport properties of graphene-like beryllium sulfide nanoribbons

“…Up to now, some graphene-like 2D crystals, such as hexagonal boron nitride (BN), BNC, SiC, and transition metal dichalcogenides, have been studied extensively to gain extraordinary properties beyond graphene [5][6][7][8][9]. For instance, BN sheet, one isoelectronic and isostructural analogue of graphene, can present several novel properties (such as superb thermal stability and chemical inertness, electrically-insulating properties, and extraordinary mechanical robustness) and great potential for high-quality nano devices (such as ultraviolet-light laser devices [10] and field emitters [11]).…”