Defect engineering in Boron Nitride for catalysis

Catalytic processes are critical steps in numerous industrial processes. The discovery of high reactivity of defects in metal-free two-dimensional materials has bolstered their emergence as catalysts. Here we consider the effect of defect-inducing methods in hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) on their performance for olefin and CO2 hydrogenation. We compare the changes introduced by ball milling and heat treatment in h-BN and show how varying the treatment conditions can impact the properties. We provide some evidence of the reactivity of the powders. Our results highlight how characterization can be exploited to assess the potential catalytic activity of h-BN for heterogeneous catalysis.