Novel chemical routes to hierarchical hexagonal boron nitride nanomaterials

本研究的重点是建立一种新的化学方法来制备含六方氮化硼或含六方氮化硼的纳米材料。六方氮化硼纳米材料在需要轻质、强强度和电绝缘性能的广泛应用中引起了人们的兴趣。直到最近，六方氮化硼纳米结构的可用性还是有限的。纳米材料设计研究小组在六方氮化硼多壁纳米管的大规模生产方面取得了很大进展，为六方氮化硼纳米管的新型功能材料的工程化铺平了道路。通过创建包含不同构建块的分层纳米结构，如纳米颗粒、纳米管、不同化学性质的纳米片，有可能设计出能够解决不同技术挑战的多功能材料。这种分层纳米材料也可以嵌入复合材料中。例如，轻质、坚固、导热且绝缘的复合材料。具有这些特性的材料在下一代电池应用、汽车工业、航空和空间应用中备受追捧。为了实现填料与基体的最佳相互作用，填料的表面化学性质需要与基体材料相匹配。该研究方法的新颖之处在于开发新的化学方法来实现六方氮化硼材料的功能化，并将其与其他纳米材料系统和基质材料相匹配。将采用最先进的化学功能化和表征来评估单个构建块的相互作用以及由此产生的分层结构及其复合材料的性质。各种生产技术和这些组合将被探索，包括水热法，化学气相沉积技术，和湿化学。该研究小组拥有一系列工业合作者，一旦六边形纳米材料的定制功能化取得进展，将寻求特定的潜在应用。传统上，纳米材料设计研究小组的学生被鼓励在可行的情况下与学术合作者和行业合作伙伴进行合作。该研究项目属于EPSRC能源、工程、医疗保健技术、未来制造、物理科学研究领域。

The focus of this work is to establish novel chemical means to generate hierarchical structures of or containing hexagonal boron nitride nanomaterials. Hexagonal boron nitride nanomaterials are of interest for a wide range of applications that require lightweight, strong, and electrically insulating properties. Until recently the availability of hexagonal boron nitride nanostructures was limited. The Nanomaterials by Design research team has made much progress with the larger scale production of hexagonal boron nitride multi-wall nanotubes, hence paving the way to engineering novel functional materials containing hexagonal boron nitride nanotubes.By creating hierarchical nanostructures containing different building blocks, such as nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanosheets of different chemistries, it is possible to engineer multifunctional materials that can address different technological challenges. Such hierarchical nanomaterials can also be embedded in composite materials. For example, composite materials that are lightweight, strong, and thermally conducting yet electrically insulating. Materials with these properties are highly sought for next generation battery applications, automotive industries, aeronautics, and space applications.In order to achieve optimum filler matrix interaction, the surface chemistry of the filler materials need to be adapted to match the matrix materials. The novelty of the research methodology lies in developing novel chemical approaches to the functionalisation of hexagonal boron nitride materials, matching those with other nanomaterial systems, and matrix materials. State-of-the-art chemical functionalisation and characterisation will be employed to evaluate the interaction of the individual building blocks and the properties of the resulting hierarchical structures and their composites. Various production techniques and combinations of these will be explored including hydrothermal methods, chemical vapour deposition techniques, and wet chemistry.The research group has a range of industrial collaborators and specific potential applications will be sought once progress has been made with the tailored functionalisation of hexagonal nanomaterials. Traditionally, the students of the Nanomaterials of Design research group are encouraged to engage with academic collaborators as well as industry partners whenever feasible.This research project falls within the EPSRC Energy, Engineering, Healthcare technologies, Manufacturing the future, Physical sciences research areas.