Fig. 1 Molecular structure of hexagonal boron nitride

Fig. 2 SEM images of (a, b) activated carbon and (c, d) BN aerogels[24]

Fig. 3 (a) Schematic illustration of the metastructure design of BN aerogels; (b) The lightest hBN aerogels sample compared with other ultralight materials; (c) The ultimate stress, Young’s modulus, and relative height for 100 compression cycles; (d) Optical and SEM images of BN aerogels under different pressures[26]

Fig. 4 Schematic illustration of organic-inorganic hybrid block copolymer polynorbornene-decorane for preparing BN aerogels[36]

Fig. 5 (a) Schematic representation of aerogel production by a critical point drying method; (b) Picture of the as-obtained BN aerogels, MoS2 aerogels and GA[40]

Fig. 6 (a) Schematic illustration of the freeze-drying method for preparing nano-ribbon BN aerogels; (b, c) The flexibility of BN nano-ribbon aerogels in liquid nitrogen and flame[41]

Fig. 7 Schematic illustration of the preparation procedure of crosslinking-free rGO/BN composite aerogels[43]

Fig. 8 (a,b) TEM images of BN aerogels and (c) schematic illustration of microstructure[21]

Fig. 9 (a) The absorption of CO2 and N2 at 273 and 298 K by BN aerogel and (b) corresponding histograms[28]; (c) SEM image of Pt nanocrystals/BN aerogel; (d) Response/recovery curve of Pt nanocrystal/BN aerogel towards propane[52]

Fig. 10 (a) SEM images of Pt/BN-GA catalyst[55]; (b) ECSA comparison chart of Pt/BN-GA, Pt/GA, Pt/G and Pt/C and (c) corresponding current-time curves[57]

Fig. 11 (a-d) The Wetting behaviour and oil absorption capacity of rGO/BN sponge; (e) The ability of rGO/BN sponge to absorb different organic liquids; (f) The rGO/BN sponge repetitively absorbed hexane and released its vapour under heat treatment (85 ℃); (g) Recyclability of the rGO/BN sponge for absorption of hexane under absorption-squeezing cycles[59]

Fig. 12 Schematic illustrating the fabrication of graphene/BN hybrid aerogels[64]

Fig. 13 SEM images of the double-pane wall structure of BN aerogels[26] (a) hBNAG; (b) Double-pane wall structure of hBNAGs. Scale bars, 20 nm