Advanced fibers enable the fabrication of structures and composites for applications reliant on lightweight, oxidation resistant, mechanically strong, and electrically insulating materials, e.g. in all forms of land, air, and space transportation and in applications within extreme environments. Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN) fibers harness these advantages, and in addition, offer ultra-high-strength-to-weight ratio and low density. Yet, existing precursors for polymer-derived BN fibers are limited to insoluble and air/moisture sensitive polyborazylenes, hindering fiber production at scale. In this contribution, we report a reliable, controllable, and scalable synthesis methodology for producing pure micro- and nano-h-BN fibers, offering a competitive alternative to NASA’s energy-intensive h-BN nanotubes production. The single-source precursor, N-methyl polyaminoborane (PMeAB), plays a pivotal role in this process. The catalytic, and scalable, synthesis of PMeAB with controlled molecular weights (Mw = 110,500–290,500 g·mol−1) enables the production of h-BN fibers by electrospinning method and thermolysis under ammonia. PMeAB molecular weight and concentration were identified as key factors dictating the viscosity and surface tension, and thus influencing the overall spinnability of the PMeAB solution. We reveal that the subsequent formation of a cross-linked intermediate during PMeAB thermolysis is essential to retain the fibrous morphology during the conversion to h-BN fibers. Comprehensive characterization demonstrated the purity and homogeneity of the h-BN fibers, with ~ 97 at.% of B and N contents combined throughout the fiber body. This newly disclosed route to h-BN fibers offers a route to potentially valuable multifunctional filler material for advanced lightweight composites suitable for applications in extreme environments.

Chemist Wesley Browne came up with a way to figure out which of the University Museum's wet specimens have been preserved in toxic liquid.

Ted Bundy, Charles Manson, and many other notorious figures lived in and around Tacoma in the sixties. A new book argues that there was something in the water.

The Nobel Prize might be the most famous science prize but it celebrates just a narrow slice of science and very few scientists.

Magdalene College is deeply saddened to announce the death of Professor Sir John Gurdon FRS, who served as Master of the College from 1995 to 2002.

<span>⁵⁷Fe Mössbauer, electron paramagnetic resonance, and ⁵⁷Fe nuclear resonance vibrational spectroscopies are applied to characterize three different Fe^III-O-Cr^III...

The AT network is becoming more heterogeneous in practice, with independent PDS hosts, apps, and alternative bsky AppViews establishing themselves. This means that more complex inter-service moderatio...

Renad bereikt miljoenen mensen met haar kookvideo's, maar plaatste ook video's met informatie over de situatie in Gaza. Haar zus kreeg een studiebeurs van de Universiteit van Maastricht, en Renad en h...