Adsorption and activation of small molecules on boron nitride catalysts

Baiyu Miao; Zhihuan Qiu; Ziheng Zhen; Youwei Yang; Zhibo Yang; Tiantian Xiao; Jing Lv; Shouying Huang; Yue Wang; Xinbin Ma

doi:10.1039/D4CP00103F

Adsorption and activation of small molecules on boron nitride catalysts

Baiyu Miao,†^a Zhihuan Qiu,†^b Ziheng Zhen,^a Youwei Yang,^a Zhibo Yang,^a Tiantian Xiao,^a Jing Lv,^a Shouying Huang,

^ab Yue Wang

*^acd and Xinbin Ma

^ac

Author affiliations

* Corresponding authors

^a Key Laboratory for Green Chemical Technology of Ministry of Education, Collaborative Innovation Center of Chemical Science and Engineering, School of Chemical Engineering and Technology, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
E-mail: yuewang@tju.edu.cn

^b Zhejiang Institute of Tianjin University, Ningbo Key Laboratory of Green Petrochemical Carbon Emission Reduction Technology and Equipment, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315200, China

^c Haihe Laboratory of Sustainable Chemical Transformations, Tianjin 300192, China

^d Joint School of National University of Singapore and Tianjin University, International Campus of Tianjin University, Binhai New City, Fuzhou 350207, China

Abstract

Hexagonal boron nitride possesses a unique layered structure, high specific surface area and similar electronic properties as graphene, which makes it not only a promising catalyst support, but also a highly effective metal-free catalyst in the booming field of green chemistry. Reactions involving small molecules (e.g., oxygen, low carbon alkanes, nitrogen and carbon dioxide) have always been a hot topic in catalytic research, especially associated with the adsorption and activation regime of different forms of small molecules on catalysts. In this review, we have investigated the adsorption of different small molecules and the relevant activation mechanisms of four typical chemical bonds (O [double bond, length as m-dash] O, C–H, N [triple bond, length as m-dash] N, CO) on hexagonal boron nitride. Recent progress on approaches adopted to enhance the activation capacity such as doping, defect engineering and heterostructuring are summarized, highlighting the potential applications of nonmetallic hexagonal boron nitride catalysts in various reactions. This comprehensive investigation offers a reference point for the enhanced mechanistic understanding and future design of effective and sustainable catalytic systems based on boron nitride.