Modification Strategies of Hexagonal Boron Nitride Nanomaterials for Photocatalysis

Although hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) was initially considered a less promising photocatalyst due to its large band gap and apparent chemical inertness, its unique two-dimensional lamellar structure coupled with high stability and environmental friendliness, as the second largest van der Waals material after graphene, provides a unique platform for photocatalytic innovation. This review not only highlights the intrinsic qualities of h-BN with photocatalytic potentials, such as high stability, environmental compatibility, and tunable bandgap through various modification strategies but also provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advances in h-BN-based nanomaterials for environmental and energy applications, as well as an in-depth description of the modification methods and fundamental properties for these applications. In addition, we discuss the challenges and prospects of h-BN-based nanomaterials for future photocatalysis. This review starts with strategies to improve the photocatalytic activity of h-BN and reduce the band gap of h-BN and discusses different strategies to regulate the band gap of h-BN semiconductors, to explore the possibility of adjusting h-BN to meet its photocatalytic requirements. Finally, we discuss the future and challenges of modified h-BN in the field of photocatalysis. image