Cetyl alcohol surface functionalization: a strategy for modulating electronic characteristics of boron nitride nanosheets

Abstract

Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) is a two-dimensional material with a unique layered structure akin to Graphene. Cetyl alcohol (CH₃(CH₂)₁₅OH) denoted as CA, a fatty alcohol derived from natural sources like palm oil and coconut oil, holds a significant place in various industries due to its versatile properties. Cetyl alcohol's has a potential in forming stable nanostructures and its interactions with other compounds, shedding light on its utility in nanotechnology and materials science. In this work exfoliation of BNNS and subsequent functionalization using Cetyl alcohol is investigated. The functionalization of boron nitride nanosheets (BNNS) using CA is investigated in this study. The modification process aims to enhance the properties and applications of BNNS. OH groups are functionalized and bring about beneficial changes to its properties, enabling enhanced interactions with other compounds. This modification can lead to improved solubility, emulsification, and lubrication capabilities, expanding its utility in various applications such as cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and industrial processes. Characterization techniques, including Thermogravimetric analysis(TG/DTA), UV-Visible spectroscopy, Photoluminescence, X- ray diffraction (XRD), Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) are employed to analyze the efficacy of the functionalization process. Thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) was utilized to investigate the thermal characteristics of the functionalized samples.