Abstract

We report the covalent functionalization of exfoliated boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) using dibromocarbene (DBC) species. The functionalization of BNNSs is enabled as the nanosheets are utilized as two-dimensional phase-transfer catalysts for the migration of carbenes across the organic–aqueous phase boundary. We postulate that BNNSs stabilize carbenes by forming B-CBr2 ylides and in turn act as the reaction substrate. DBC functionalization of BNNSs results in the formation of B–C and B–N bonds to the sp2-hybridized BNNS lattice via the formation of dibromo-bridged bicyclo BCN systems. The covalent functionalization was characterized using HR-TEM, AFM, EELS, XRD, EDX, ToF-SIMS, TGA, Raman, XPS, FTIR, and UV–vis techniques. Utilization of CBr2 groups as a means by which BNNSs may be integrated and interfaced with solvents, molecular species, and condensed-phase materials was demonstrated by grafting alkyl chains from the functional groups via alkyl/halogen exchange. Alkyl-functionalized BNNSs were integr...

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