Ultrafine porous boron nitride nanofibers synthesized via a freeze-drying and pyrolysis process and their adsorption properties

Author(s): Jing Lin ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ ^, ⁵ , Lulu Xu ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Yang Huang ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Jie Li ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Weijia Wang ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Congcong Feng ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Zhenya Liu ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Xuewen Xu ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴ , Jin Zou ⁵ ^, ⁶ ^, ⁷ ^, ⁸ ^, ⁹ , Chengchun Tang ¹ ^, ² ^, ³ ^, ⁴

Publication date (Electronic): 2016

Journal: RSC Advances

Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)

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Abstract

Ultrafine porous boron nitride nanofibers with high aspect ratios, high specific surface areas and large pore volumes has been synthesized in large quantity via a freeze-drying and post pyrolysis process.

Abstract

One-dimensional (1D) boron nitride (BN) nanostructures with a high aspect ratio are of prime interest due to their importance in fundamental research and wide-range potential applications. Herein we developed a facile method for the first synthesis of ultrafine porous BN nanofibers in high purity and a high yield. The method included two-steps, freeze-drying of a hot melamine/boric acid solution and post pyrolysis of the as-obtained products. The extremely rapid cooling of the hot melamine/boric acid solution during the freeze-drying process resulted in the formation of ultrafine precursors, which was the key for the final synthesis of porous BN nanofibers with downsized diameters (20–60 nm) and high aspect ratios. The as-synthesized ultrafine BN nanofibers possessed a high specific surface area and a large pore volume, which could be tuned by the pyrolysis parameters. All of these characteristics make the porous BN nanofibers promising in the applications of water treatment, hydrogen storage, catalyst support, etc. Especially, ultrafast adsorption of methylene blue (MB) in water has been demonstrated using the present porous BN nanofibers as an adsorbent.

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Boron nitride nanotubes and nanosheets.

Dmitri Golberg, Yoshio Bando, Yang Huang … (2010)

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is a layered material with a graphite-like structure in which planar networks of BN hexagons are regularly stacked. As the structural analogue of a carbon nanotube (CNT), a BN nanotube (BNNT) was first predicted in 1994; since then, it has become one of the most intriguing non-carbon nanotubes. Compared with metallic or semiconducting CNTs, a BNNT is an electrical insulator with a band gap of ca. 5 eV, basically independent of tube geometry. In addition, BNNTs possess a high chemical stability, excellent mechanical properties, and high thermal conductivity. The same advantages are likely applicable to a graphene analogue-a monatomic layer of a hexagonal BN. Such unique properties make BN nanotubes and nanosheets a promising nanomaterial in a variety of potential fields such as optoelectronic nanodevices, functional composites, hydrogen accumulators, electrically insulating substrates perfectly matching the CNT, and graphene lattices. This review gives an introduction to the rich BN nanotube/nanosheet field, including the latest achievements in the synthesis, structural analyses, and property evaluations, and presents the purpose and significance of this direction in the light of the general nanotube/nanosheet developments.

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Porous boron nitride nanosheets for effective water cleaning.

Weiwei Lei, David Portehault, Dan Liu … (2012)

Effective removal of oils, organic solvents and dyes from water is of significant, global importance for environmental and water source protection. Advanced sorbent materials with excellent sorption capacity need to be developed. Here we report porous boron nitride nanosheets with very high specific surface area that exhibit excellent sorption performances for a wide range of oils, solvents and dyes. The nanostructured material absorbs up to 33 times its own weight in oils and organic solvents while repelling water. The saturated boron nitride nanosheets can be readily cleaned for reuse by burning or heating in air because of their strong resistance to oxidation. This easy recyclability further demonstrates the potential of porous boron nitride nanosheets for water purification and treatment.