title: Nanoscale structure and superhydrophobicity of sp(2)-bonded boron nitride aerogels.
abstract: Aerogels have much potential in both research and industrial applications due to their high surface area, low density, and fine pore size distribution. Here we report a thorough structural study of three-dimensional aerogels composed of highly crystalline sp(2)-bonded boron nitride (BN) layers synthesized by a carbothermic reduction process. The structure, crystallinity and bonding of the as-prepared BN aerogels are elucidated by X-ray diffraction, (11)B nuclear magnetic resonance, transmission electron microscopy, and resonant soft X-ray scattering. The macroscopic roughness of the aerogel's surface causes it to be superhydrophobic with a contact angle of ∼155° and exhibit high oil uptake capacity (up to 1500 wt%). The oil can be removed from the BN aerogel by oxidizing in air without damaging the crystalline porous structure of the aerogel or diminishing its oil absorption capacity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physics, University of California at Berkeley, Berkeley, California 94720, USA.
authors.forename: Thang
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pham
authors.forename: Anna P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: James P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Lewicki
authors.forename: Sergei O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Kucheyev
authors.forename: Cheng
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Thomas P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: Marcus A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Worsley
authors.forename: Leta
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Woo
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Mickelson
authors.forename: Alex
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zettl