Search for: All records

This review examines three aspects of hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) nanomaterials: properties, synthesis methods, and biomedical applications. We focus the scope of review on three types of h-BN nanostructures: boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs, few-layered h-BN, larger than ∼100 nm in lateral dimensions), boron nitride quantum dots (BN QDs, smaller than ∼10 nm in all dimensions, with inherent excitation-dependent fluorescence), and boron nitride dots (BN dots, smaller than ∼10 nm in all dimensions, wide bandgap without noise fluorescence). The synthesis methods of BNNSs, BN QDs, and BN dots are summarized in top-down and bottom-up approaches. Future synthesis research should focus on the scalability and the quality of the products, which are essential for reproducible applications. Regarding biomedical applications, BNNSs were used as nanocarriers for drug delivery, mechanical reinforcements (bone tissue engineering), and antibacterial applications. BN QDs are still limited for non-specific bioimaging applications. BN dots are used for the small dimension to construct high-brightness probes (HBPs) for gene sequence detections inside cells. To differentiate from other two-dimensional materials, future applications should focus on using the unique properties of BN nanostructures, such as piezoelectricity, boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), and their electrically insulating and optically transparent nature. Examples would be combining BNCT and chemo drug delivery using BNNSs, and using BN dots to form HBPs with enhanced fluorescence by preventing fluorescence quenching using electrically insulating BN dots. 

In this review, we examine recent progress using boron nitride (BN) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) nanostructures for electronic, energy, biomedical, and environmental applications. The scope of coverage includes zero-, one-, and two-dimensional nanostructures such as BN nanosheets, BN nanotubes, BN quantum dots, MoS2 nanosheets, and MoS2 quantum dots. These materials have sizable bandgaps, differentiating them from other metallic nanostructures or small-bandgap materials. We observed two interesting trends: (1) an increase in applications that use heterogeneous materials by combining BN and MoS2 nanostructures with other nanomaterials, and (2) strong research interest in environmental applications. Last, we encourage researchers to study how to remove nanomaterials from air, soil, and water contaminated with nanomaterials. As nanotechnology proceeds into various applications, environmental contamination is inevitable and must be addressed. Otherwise, nanomaterials will go into our food chain much like microplastics.