Boronnitridelike

Boronnitridelike denotes compounds and materials that incorporate boron–nitrogen motifs and that mimic boron nitride in structure, bonding, or properties. The term covers both explicit boron nitride analogues and materials in which B–N units are embedded in carbon frameworks or organic rings.

In inorganic chemistry, boronnitridelike materials include layered or three-dimensional networks built from B–N bonds. The classic examples are the allotropes of boron nitride, such as hexagonal BN, which resembles graphite with alternating boron and nitrogen in a two-dimensional lattice, and cubic BN, which is dense and ceramic-like. BN nanotubes and BN nanosheets extend these motifs to nanostructures. These materials generally exhibit high thermal stability, chemical inertness, and wide electronic band gaps, making them good insulators and lubricants at high temperature.

In organic and materials chemistry, boronnitridelike motifs are realized by incorporating B and N into aromatic rings or carbon frameworks, yielding boron–nitrogen heterocycles (for example borazine) or BN-doped graphene analogues. Such motifs can tune acidity, basicity, and electronic properties, and they are explored for catalysis, optoelectronics, and energy storage.

Synthesis of boronnitridelike materials commonly uses boron and nitrogen sources at high temperature or chemical vapor deposition for inorganic BN materials, and cross-coupling, hydroboration, or templated synthesis for BN-containing organic systems.

Applications span protective coatings, dielectric layers in electronics, solid lubricants, and structural composites, as well as catalysts and precursors for advanced materials.

See also: boron nitride, borazine, BN-doped materials, BN nanotubes.