Method for exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride

US8303922B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration · US

Inventors

• Yi-Yeu Lin · Newport News, US
• John W. Connell · Newport News, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Aug 24, 2009
• Grant date: Nov 6, 2012
• Expiry date: Nov 19, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y10T442/699
• WIPO field: Materials, metallurgy
• WIPO sector: Chemistry

Abstract

A new method is disclosed for the exfoliation of hexagonal boron nitride into mono- and few-layered nanosheets (or nanoplatelets, nanomesh, nanoribbons). The method does not necessarily require high temperature or vacuum, but uses commercially available h-BN powders (or those derived from these materials, bulk crystals) and only requires wet chemical processing. The method is facile, cost efficient, and scalable. The resultant exfoliated h-BN is dispersible in an organic solvent or water thus amenable for solution processing for unique microelectronic or composite applications.