30 Apr 2013 | Weiwei Lei, David Portehault, Dan Liu, Si Qin & Ying Chen
This article presents the development of porous boron nitride (BN) nanosheets for efficient water purification, capable of removing oils, organic solvents, and dyes. The nanosheets have a high specific surface area (1,427 m²/g) and exhibit superhydrophobicity, allowing them to float on water surfaces and be easily collected. They can absorb up to 33 times their own weight in oils and organic solvents, with a mass uptake of 3,300% for ethylene glycol. The nanosheets can be regenerated by burning or heating in air, enabling multiple reuse cycles. The material shows excellent performance in removing dyes such as Congo red and methylene blue, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 782 mg/g for Congo red. The nanosheets are highly stable and can be reused for several cycles without losing activity. The synthesis involves a dynamic templating approach, producing highly porous BN nanosheets with a layered structure. The nanosheets' high surface area and porosity contribute to their superior absorption and regeneration properties, making them promising candidates for water purification and environmental remediation.This article presents the development of porous boron nitride (BN) nanosheets for efficient water purification, capable of removing oils, organic solvents, and dyes. The nanosheets have a high specific surface area (1,427 m²/g) and exhibit superhydrophobicity, allowing them to float on water surfaces and be easily collected. They can absorb up to 33 times their own weight in oils and organic solvents, with a mass uptake of 3,300% for ethylene glycol. The nanosheets can be regenerated by burning or heating in air, enabling multiple reuse cycles. The material shows excellent performance in removing dyes such as Congo red and methylene blue, with a maximum adsorption capacity of 782 mg/g for Congo red. The nanosheets are highly stable and can be reused for several cycles without losing activity. The synthesis involves a dynamic templating approach, producing highly porous BN nanosheets with a layered structure. The nanosheets' high surface area and porosity contribute to their superior absorption and regeneration properties, making them promising candidates for water purification and environmental remediation.