Lightweight Hexagonal Boron Nitride Foam for CO2 Absorption

Author(s):Show less -

Owuor, Peter Samora ^[1] ; Park, Ok-Kyung ^{[1, 2]} ; Woellner, Cristiano F. ^{[1, 3]} ; Jalilov, Almaz S. ^[4] ; Susarla, Sandhya ^[1] ; Joyner, Jarin ^[1] ; Ozden, Sehmus ^[5] ; Duy, LuongXuan ^[4] ; Salvatierra, Rodrigo Villegas ^[4] ; Vajtai, Robert ^[1] ; Tour, James M. ^[4] ; Lou, Jun ^[1] ; Galvao, Douglas Soares ^[3] ; Tiwary, Chandra Sekhar ^[1] ; Ajayan, Pulickel M. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Rice Univ, Dept Mat Sci & NanoEngn, Houston, TX 77005 - USA

^[2] Chonbuk Natl Univ, Dept BIN Fus Technol, 567 Baekje Dero, Jeonju - South Korea

^[3] State Univ Campinas UNICAMP, Appl Phys Dept, BR-13083859 Campinas, SP - Brazil

^[4] Rice Univ, Dept Chem, POB 1892, Houston, TX 77005 - USA

^[5] Los Alamos Natl Lab, Mat Phys & Applicat Div, Los Alamos, NM 87545 - USA

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ACS NANO; v. 11, n. 9, p. 8944-8952, SEP 2017.
• Web of Science Citations: 17

Abstract

Weak van der Waals forces between inert hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanosheets make it easy for them to slide over each other, resulting in an unstable structure in macroscopic dimensions. Creating interconnections between these inert nanosheets can remarkably enhance their mechanical properties. However, controlled design of such interconnections remains a fundamental problem for many applications of h-BN foams. In this work, a scalable in situ freeze-drying synthesis of low-density, lightweight 3D macroscopic structures made of h-BN nanosheets chemically connected by poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) molecules via chemical cross-link is demonstrated. Unlike pristine h-BN foam which disintegrates upon handling after freeze-drying, h-BN/PVA foams exhibit stable mechanical integrity in addition to high porosity and large surface area. Fully atomistic simulations are used to understand the interactions between h-BN nanosheets and PVA molecules. In addition, the h-BN/PVA foam is investigated as a possible CO, absorption and as laser irradiation protection material. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 13/08293-7 - CCES - Center for Computational Engineering and Sciences
• Grantee: Munir Salomao Skaf
• Support type: Research Grants - Research, Innovation and Dissemination Centers - RIDC
• FAPESP's process: 16/12340-9 - Structural and mechanical properties of carbon-based foams
• Grantee: Cristiano Francisco Woellner
• Support type: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Post-doctor