Edge-Hydroxylated Boron Nitride Nanosheets as an Effective Additive to Improve the Thermal Response of Hydrogels
Feng Xiao1, Sina Naficy2, Gilberto Casillas3
1Institute for Superconducting and Electronic Materials, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, NSW, 2500, Australia.
Advanced Materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
|October 27, 2015
Abstract:
Upon flowing hot steam over hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) bulk powder, efficient exfoliation and hydroxylation of BN occur simultaneously. Through effective hydrogen bonding with water and N-isopropylacrylamide, edge-hydroxylated BN nanosheets dramatically improve the dimensional change and dye release of this temperature-sensitive hydrogel and thereby enhance its efficacy in bionic, soft robotic, and drug-delivery applications.


