Thirty Years of Borophene: Origins, Scientific Progress, and Future Directions

Borophene, an atomically thin boron sheet, exhibits exceptional polymorphism, metallic conductivity, and anisotropic mechanical behavior. Interest in borophene is growing, reflected in the increase in scientific publications and international collaborations. The 2D materials market is projected to reach a size of 2030, and technology companies are investing in its commercialization, especially for flexible electronics and energy storage. This perspective integrates a comprehensive bibliometric analysis with a critical evaluation of theoretical predictions, experimental synthesis methods, phase stability, and ambient reactivity. In epitaxial growth, emerging wet-chemical and exfoliation routes and functionalization strategies. The influence of computational methodology on predicted properties is discussed, highlighting inconsistencies among PBE, hybrid, and correlated approaches. Finally, we outline key challenges, including air stability, scalable synthesis, and device integration, and propose research pathways needed to translate borophene from fundamental discovery to practical technologies.