An Efficient Boron Source Activation Strategy for the Low-Temperature Synthesis of Boron Nitride Nanotubes.

Lowering the synthesis temperature of boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs) is crucial for their development. The primary reason for adopting a high temperature is to enable the effective activation of high-melting-point solid boron. In this study, we developed a novel approach for efficiently activating boron by introducing alkali metal compounds into the conventional MgO-B system.

Designing Nanofluidic Channels of Boron Nitride Nanosheets/Aramid Nanofibers/Covalent Organic Frameworks Nanofiltration Membrane for Ultrafast Mass Transport.

2D lamellar nanofiltration membrane is considered to be a promising approach for desalinating seawater/brackish water and recycling sewage. However, its practical feasibility is severely constrained by the lack of durability and stability. Herein, a ternary nanofiltration membrane via a mixed-dimensional assembly of 2D boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) is fabricated, 1D aramid nanofibers (ANF), and 2D covalent organic frameworks (COF).

Formation Mechanisms of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanosheets in Solvothermal Exfoliation.

Solvothermal techniques are widely used to exfoliate many two-dimensional materials, but the formation mechanisms of these nanomaterials have not been clearly revealed. Herein, we discovered the dissociation of hexagonal boron nitride (-BN) in solvothermal exfoliation evidenced by the formation of B(OH), NHBO·4HO, and (NH)BO·8HO. In the selected solvents, the lateral sizes of the formed boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) are increased in the order of -methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP), ,-dimethylformamide (DMF), acetonitrile (MeCN), and isopropanol (IPA), suggesting the decreased dissolving abilities of these solvents to -BN in turn.

Polyvinyl alcohol-mediated splitting of Kevlar fibers and superior mechanical performances of the subsequently assembled nanopapers.

In this work, a composite of aramid nanofibers (ANFs) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was prepared by PVA-assisted splitting of macro Kevlar fibers, which assures the uniform wrapping of PVA chains on the surface of ANFs, thus leading to an enhanced interfacial bonding strength between ANFs and PVA. The morphological characterizations manifest the enhanced diameters of the ANFs after PVA wrapping. The subsequently assembled ANFs/PVA paper shows a strength of 283.

Improved mechanical and ultraviolet shielding performances of hydroxyethyl cellulose film by using aramid nanofibers as additives.

Recently, aramid nanofibers (ANFs) have drawn the attention of scientist due to the high mechanical strength, high-temperature resistance, and high electrical and thermal insulation properties. In this work, we aimed at improving the mechanical and ultraviolet shielding properties of hydroxyethyl cellulose (HEC) film by using ANFs as additives. Mechanical results show that the 1.