A method for exfoliating and/or dispersing hexagonal boron nitride comprises mixing hexagonal boron nitride with a solvent system comprising at least two solvents. The use of a solvent system with at least two solvents provides improved benefits to the exfoliation process compared to the use of individual solvents.

A method for exfoliating and/or dispersing hexagonal boron nitride comprises mixing hexagonal boron nitride with a solvent system comprising at least two solvents. The use of a solvent system with at least two solvents provides improved benefits to the exfoliation process compared to the use of individual solvents.

The inventive concepts disclosed and/or claimed herein relate generally to catalysts and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a heterogeneous, metal-free hydrogenation catalyst containing frustrated Lewis pairs. In one non-limiting embodiment, the heterogeneous, metal-free catalyst comprises hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) having frustrated Lewis pairs therein.

According to the present invention, there are provided processes for preparing a porous composite material comprising a metal and a two-dimensional nanomaterial. In one aspect, the processes comprise the steps of: providing a powder comprising metal particles; heating the powder such that the metal particles fuse to form a porous scaffold; and forming a two-dimensional nanomaterial on a surface of the porous scaffold by chemical vapour deposition (CVD). Also provided are materials obtainable by the present processes, and products comprising said materials.

A method of producing a boron nitride polycrystal includes: a first step of obtaining a thermally treated powder by thermally treating a powder of a high pressure phase boron nitride at more than or equal to 1300° C.; and a second step of obtaining a boron nitride polycrystal by sintering the thermally treated powder under a condition of 8 to 20 GPa and 1200 to 2300° C.

A radical anion based functionalization of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials is proposed. The covalent functionalization of the basal plane of 2D materials with charge neutral radicals is typically unstable to reduction, leading to detachment of the functional groups from the basal plane upon reduction. This instability hinders the use of functionalized 2D materials as rechargeable electroactive species, unless the functional groups are bound to the edges of the 2D material. However, to achieve high capacity without the creation of many edges and defects, a stable functionalization of the basal plane in the reduced state is required. This goal can be achieved by radical anion functionalization, whereby the reduced/discharged state of the basal-plane-functionalized 2D material is produced. The product of the radical anion functionalization can be used as the discharged state of a cathode active material, solid electrolyte or part of a polymer composite.

A radical anion based functionalization of two-dimensional (2D) layered materials is proposed. The covalent functionalization of the basal plane of 2D materials with charge neutral radicals is typically unstable to reduction, leading to detachment of the functional groups from the basal plane upon reduction. This instability hinders the use of functionalized 2D materials as rechargeable electroactive species, unless the functional groups are bound to the edges of the 2D material. However, to achieve high capacity without the creation of many edges and defects, a stable functionalization of the basal plane in the reduced state is required. This goal can be achieved by radical anion functionalization, whereby the reduced/discharged state of the basal-plane-functionalized 2D material is produced. The product of the radical anion functionalization can be used as the discharged state of a cathode active material, solid electrolyte or part of a polymer composite.

Provided are a scroll preparing method using a two-dimensional material and a scroll prepared thereby. The scroll preparing method comprises preparing a two-dimensional material. The two-dimensional material is scrolled by providing an amphiphilic substance having a hydrophilic portion and a hydrophobic portion on the two-dimensional material. As a result, a scroll composite including the amphiphilic substance disposed inside a scroll structure is formed.

A piston having a piston crown with a combustion chamber, and a circumferential ring belt extending from the piston crown and having a plurality of ring grooves separated by piston lands. At least one of the piston lands, ring grooves or top surface of the crown is provided with a coating comprising hexagonal boron nitride. The coating can be made solely of hexagonal boron nitride, or can additionally include a resin. The coating can be a single layer coating or a multiple layer coating.

A piston having a piston crown with a combustion chamber, and a circumferential ring belt extending from the piston crown and having a plurality of ring grooves separated by piston lands. At least one of the piston lands, ring grooves or top surface of the crown is provided with a coating comprising hexagonal boron nitride. The coating can be made solely of hexagonal boron nitride, or can additionally include a resin. The coating can be a single layer coating or a multiple layer coating.