Borocarbonitride materials as metal-free catalysts for advanced catalysis

Abstract

Heterogeneous catalysis has been inseparable from the fields of energy-related conversion and organic synthesis, etc. By virtue of the merits of low cost, earth-abundance, and low toxicity, metal-free catalysts, as alternative to metal-based catalyst, have been paid considerable attention. Amongst them, borocarbonitride materials emerges as an important class of layered metal-free functional material and possess a variety of stoichiometry and crystal structure, exhibiting some unique properties, such as tunable bandgap, good thermal conductivity, large surface area etc. and thereby being used as catalyst in various conversions. In the present review, we begin with an introduction of the structure and theoretical simulation of borocarbonitride materials, followed by a summary of the synthesis methods reported in the last five years. Then, in terms of the specific reactions, the recent representative research progress of borocarbonitride in the fields of thermocatalysis, electrocatalysis, and photocatalysis are discussed in detail. Finally, the challenges confronting in current research are pointed out and the future perspective are offered.