Hexagonal boron nitride nanomaterials for multifunctional integration in next-generation batteries

Abstract Hexagonal boron nitride nanomaterials, in the form of nanosheets and thin films, offer multifunctional benefits for next-generation batteries, significantly enhancing safety, performance, and longevity. This perspective explores their integration into electrolytes, separators, and electrodes, highlighting key advantages while addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with their commercial adoption. The ever-increasing demand for electric vehicles, smart portable electronics, and grid-scale energy storage systems has driven the development of advanced batteries that meet diverse requirements, including high electrochemical performance, improved safety, and cost-effectiveness. Next-generation batteries such as lithium metal batteries (LMBs) and solid-state batteries (SSBs) have emerged as leading candidates; however, they face critical challenges, including dendrite formation, interfacial instability, and limited cyclability. Hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) nanomaterials, in the form of nanosheets and thin films, present unique properties such as high thermal conductivity, chemical inertness, and mechanical strength, making them promising candidates for addressing these issues. This perspective explores the integration of hBN nanomaterials into liquid and solid-state electrolytes, separators, and Li metal anodes, focusing on their role in improving ionic conductivity, suppressing dendrite formation, and improving both mechanical and thermal stability. Additionally, we discuss recent advances, underlying mechanisms contributing to performance enhancements, and future research directions–particularly those concerning scalable synthesis and interface engineering–that are essential for enabling the commercial adoption of hBN-enhanced battery technologies. Graphical abstract