nl504397h_si_001.pdf (1.55 MB)
Scalable Exfoliation Process for Highly Soluble Boron Nitride Nanoplatelets by Hydroxide-Assisted Ball Milling
journal contribution
posted on 2015-02-11, 00:00 authored by Dongju Lee, Bin Lee, Kwang Hyun Park, Ho Jin Ryu, Seokwoo Jeon, Soon Hyung HongThe
scalable preparation of two-dimensional hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)
is essential for practical applications. Despite intense research
in this area, high-yield production of two-dimensional h-BN with large-size
and high solubility remains a key challenge. In the present work,
we propose a scalable exfoliation process for hydroxyl-functionalized
BN nanoplatelets (OH-BNNPs) by a simple ball milling of BN powders
in the presence of sodium hydroxide via the synergetic effect of chemical
peeling and mechanical shear forces. The hydroxide-assisted ball milling
process results in relatively large flakes with an average size of
1.5 μm with little damage to the in-plane structure of the OH-BNNP
and high yields of 18%. The resultant OH-BNNP samples can be redispersed
in various solvents and form stable dispersions that can be used for
multiple purposes. The incorporation of the BNNPs into the polyethylene
matrix effectively enhanced the barrier properties of the polyethylene
due to increased tortuosity of the diffusion path of the gas molecules.
Hydroxide-assisted ball milling process can thus provide simple and
efficient approaches to scalable preparation of large-size and highly
soluble BNNPs. Moreover, this exfoliation process is not only easily
scalable but also applicable to other layered materials.