One-step template-free synthesis of highly porous boron nitride microsponges for hydrogen storage

Abstract

Highly porous, sponge-like boron nitride materials, namely microsponges (BNMSs), with ultrahigh surface areas up to 1900 m2 g-1, are prepared by a facile, one-step, template-free reaction of boric acid and dicyanamide. Detailed analysis confirms the increase of the interlayer (0002) distances compared to standard graphitic BN and reveals special dislocation structures in the BNMSs. The resulting textural parameters such as the Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) specific surface areas and pore volumes are easily tunable over a wide range by adjusting the synthesis temperature or composition of the precursors. It is demonstrated that these microporous materials (with pore widths of 1.0 nm) display comparatively high and reversible H2 sorption capacities from 1.65 to 2.57 wt% at 1 MPa and -196 C on a material basis. © 2013 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.