Advanced nanoarchitectonics in hexagonal boron nitride-based functional materials for water treatment

Abstract

The application of functional materials in wastewater treatment has emerged as an effective strategy for degrading pollutants that cannot be efficiently removed by conventional treatment processes. Among these materials, hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN)-based systems have demonstrated strong potential for the removal of a wide range of heavy metals and emerging organic contaminants. Their superior performance is primarily attributed to their layered hexagonal structure composed of polar B-N bonds, which create Lewis acid (B) and Lewis base (N) sites ideal for coordination. To elucidate the functional roles of h-BN-based materials, this review comprehensively examines the physicochemical properties of h-BN arising from variations in its chemical structure and its capacity to act as a heterogeneous coordination platform. The underlying surface complexation and activation mechanisms between h-BN-based materials and various organic and inorganic pollutants are discussed in detail, specifically highlighting the coordination-driven processes for heavy metal sequestration and contaminant degradation. Furthermore, recent progress in the functional applications of h-BN-based materials—including adsorption, membrane separation, photocatalysis, Fenton-like reactions, and electrocatalysis—are summarized. Comparative analyses of h-BN and its structural analog graphene are also presented, emphasizing composite designs that integrate their complementary physicochemical properties to enhance treatment efficiency. Overall, this review establishes a comprehensive framework that links material structure and properties of h-BN, including its interfacial coordination mechanisms with pollutants, and functional performance in water treatment, thereby offering valuable insights into the rational engineering design and practical implementation of h-BN-based systems.