Our research on hexagonal boron nitride is about functionalization and composites of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS). Hexagonal boron nitride is the isoelectric analogue of graphite. We are focusing on having it functionalized and exfoliated, to produce BNNS. A method of chemical functionalization has been developed to obtain good solubility in solvent and prominent interactions between a polymeric matrix and BNNS fillers. After that composites with high thermal conductivity, good mechanical properties, and low coefficient of friction can be fabricated.

 

Publications

PMMA functionalized boron nitride sheets as nanofillers
Cui, Z.; Martinez, A. P.; Adamson, D. H.
Nanoscale 2015 7:10193-10197

Boron Nitride Surface Activity as Route to Composite Dielectric Films
Cui, Z.; Cao, Z.; Ma, R.; Dobrynin, A. V.; Adamson, D. H.
ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 2015 7:16913-16916

Large Scale Thermal Exfoliation and Functionalization of Boron Nitride
Cui Z.; Oyer A. J.; Glover A. J.; Schniepp H. C. and Adamson D. H.
Small 2014 10:2352–2355