Review—Towards the Two-Dimensional Hexagonal Boron Nitride (2D h-BN) Electrochemical Sensing Platforms

Abstract

Electrochemical sensing performance of two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (2D h-BN) has traditionally been suppressed by their intrinsic electrical insulation and deficient electron transportation mechanism. However, the excellent electrocatalytic activity, high specific surface area, N- and B-active edges, structural defects, adjustable band gap through interaction with other nanomaterials, and chemical functionalization, makes 2D h-BN ideal for many sensing applications. Therefore, finding a pathway to modulate the electronic properties of 2D h-BN while the intrinsic characteristics are well preserved, will evolve a new generation of highly sensitive and selective electrochemical (bio)sensors. That is why extensive research has recently focused on the challenge to functionalize 2D h-BN by controlling the surface chemical reactions with external species, particularly metal nanoparticles. This review summarizes the most recent progress in the application of 2D h-BN nanosheets in electrochemical (bio)sensing. We will explore the fabrication techniques of 2D h-BN for electrochemical applications followed by thorough discussion on their advantages, shortcomings, and promising possibilities as (bio)sensing platforms in near future.

The Law of Attraction: Relating Computed Energetics of Physisorption with Performance of Graphene-Based Sensors for Nitroaromatic Contaminants

“…8. B-and N-(co)doped graphene: to additionally extend the established design guidelines beyond previously experimentally tested systems (classes 1-7 above), a series of graphene derivatives, increasingly (co)doped with boron and nitrogen atoms (BH-doped-G, NH-doped-G, B,N-codoped-Gn) up to hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) 31 were considered. To the best of our knowledge, these systems have not yet been applied to nitroaromatics sensing.…”

Methods of hexagonal boron nitride exfoliation and its functionalization: covalent and non-covalent approaches

“…Recently, advanced applications of 2D h-BN in the eld of electrochemical sensing have received much attention owing to the large surface area, various active edges, and good catalytic characteristics. 251 It has been reported in the literature that 2D h-BN can be modied using conductivityassisting nanomaterials, such as Au, Pt, etc., and the N-p z and B-p z orbitals in 2D h-BN form a network with the d z metal orbitals that can enhance the electrocatalytic properties of the prepared hybrid nanostructures. 52,[252][253][254]…”

Recent Advances in High-Throughput Nanomaterial Manufacturing for Hybrid Flexible Bioelectronics

“…It is a natural hyperbolic material in the mid-IR range [ 147 ], attractive for use as a substrate for graphene transistors because of its atomic-scale smoothness [ 32 ], advantageous for electrochemical sensing [ 148 ], of great interest as a capacitive dielectric [ 130 ], and potentially suited for the in-situ formation of 1D conducting channels [ 57 ]. Printable h-BN monolayers may be synthesized through top-down approaches, such as mechanical and chemical exfoliation, or bottom-down approaches, such as PVD and CVD [ 148 ]. Because h-BN has strong in-plane covalent bonds and weak inter-plane van der Waals forces compared to graphene, h-BN is an attractive 2D material for printable inks.…”

“…Because h-BN has strong in-plane covalent bonds and weak inter-plane van der Waals forces compared to graphene, h-BN is an attractive 2D material for printable inks. Although h-BN has long been of interest, its potential for high-throughput fabrication via screen and inkjet printing has just recently been appreciated [ 148 ]. For instance, h-BN is now well understood for capacitive, dielectric, and transistor substrate applications.…”