Abstract：Boron nitride (BN) nanosheets, sometimes called “white graphene”, are an important member of two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials. They possess some properties similar to graphene, such as high strength and good thermal conductivity, but also many unique properties unavailable to graphene. For example, BN nanosheets are electrical insulator with a stable wide bandgap about 6 eV in regardless of thickness, and hence excellent dielectric substrate for graphene and MoS2 based devices. In contrast to the intensive studies on graphene, many fundamental properties and potential applications of BN nanosheets are still waiting for experimental exploration. In this talk, my recent research progress on the unique property (e.g. oxidation resistance, thermal, mechanical, optical, dielectric screening and surface adsorption) to application (e.g. corrosion protection, surface enhanced Raman spectroscopy, and water treatment) of BN nanosheets will be reviewed.

As a powerful technique to precisely probe chemical environment, valence state, bond orientation etc, Synchrotron-based NEXAFS can be a valuable tool to study nanomaterials. I will also briefly introduce this technique and the use of it in my research.

 

Author bio：Dr Luhua Li obtained his PhD degree (in Physics) from the Australian National University in 2012, and currently working at Institute for Frontier Materials (IFM), Deakin University (Australia) under an Australian Research Council (ARC) Discovery Early Career Researcher Award (DECRA). He was an Alfred Deakin Research Fellow between 2013 and 2015. His current research focusing on 2D nanomaterials, especially BN nanosheets and novel electrocatalysts. He has attracted funding for research and equipment valued at AU$2.8m over the last 5 years. Dr Li is an expert in many analysis and synthesis techniques, such as scanning probe microscopy (SPM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Synchrotron-based near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (NEXAFS), and ball milling. Dr Li is the author of 4 book chapters and >50 peer-reviewed papers in international journals, such as Nature Commun., Nano Lett., ACS Nano, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed., Adv. Funct, Mater. He also serves as referees at a regular basis for Adv. Mater., ACS Nano, Small, Nanoscale, Chem. Commun., J. of Mater. Chem. etc. He is currently an Advisory Committee of the Australian Synchrotron (SXR beamline).