Chitosan-templated synthesis of few-layers boron nitride and its unforeseen activity as a Fenton catalyst

A novel procedure for the preparation of few-layers boron nitride (BN), either as films or as suspended BN platelets, is presented, based on the pyrolysis of chitosan, which serves both as a matrix to embed ammonium borate and as a template for BN synthesis. The resulting BN samples are characterized by XRD, Raman and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, and by TEM and AFM imaging. The samples exhibit deep UV emission, which is characteristic of high quality BN. This template synthesis and the easy exfoliation of BN platelets facilitate the use of BN as an extremely high-efficiency Fenton catalyst for the generation of highly aggressive hydroxyl radicals in water.