Three-Dimensional Boron Nitride Networks in Polymer Composites: Fabrication Strategies and Thermal-Management Applications
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PUBLIC SUMMARY
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BNNSs are promising insulating fillers for thermal management, yet random dispersion in polymers hinders continuous thermal pathways and limits composite thermal conductivity.
Strategies to build 3D BN networks via external fields, templates and geometry design, clarifying structure–property relations for phonon transport and interfacial thermal resistance.
Applications of 3D BN networks in electronics, phase-change storage and radiative cooling, and identifies future directions including responsive materials and data-driven optimization.
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ABSTRACT
Boron nitride nanosheets (BNNSs) combine high intrinsic thermal conductivity, electrical insulation, and chemical stability, making them attractive electrically insulating fillers for electronic thermal management applications. However, the random dispersion of BNNSs within polymer matrices severely restricts the effective construction of thermally conductive pathways, resulting in limited thermal conductivity of the resultant composites. A central challenge is to construct continuous thermally conductive networks at relatively low BN loadings while reducing interfacial thermal resistance. To address this issue, this review first introduces two mainstream solutions: multi-dimensional filler hybridization and the construction of three-dimensional (3D) boron nitride (BN) networks. This review focuses on representative strategies for engineering BN-based thermal architectures, including external-field-driven alignment, template-assisted assembly, and geometry-guided structural design, with particular emphasis on the transition from directional alignment to multidirectionally interconnected 3D networks. It elucidates the structure–property relationships governing interfacial thermal resistance modulation and phonon transport enhancement. Furthermore, this review summarizes the recent advances in applications of 3D BN networks in electronic thermal management, phase-change energy storage, and radiative cooling, while also discussing key challenges related to scalability, durability, multifunctional integration, and adaptability to complex operating conditions. Finally, future research directions are discussed, highlighting smart-responsive thermal management materials, multiphysics-coupled design, and data-driven structural optimization, aiming to provide a theoretical foundation and technical guidance for the design and engineering application of next-generation high-performance polymeric thermal management materials. -
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Wang X., Lv Y., Yang T., et al. (2026). Three-Dimensional Boron Nitride Networks in Polymer Composites: Fabrication Strategies and Thermal-Management Applications. Energy Use 2:100065. https://doi.org/10.59717/ipj.energy-use.2026.100065
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Wang X., Lv Y., Yang T., et al. (2026). Three-Dimensional Boron Nitride Networks in Polymer Composites: Fabrication Strategies and Thermal-Management Applications. Energy Use 2:100065. https://doi.org/10.59717/ipj.energy-use.2026.100065
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Figure 1.
Schematic illustration of thermal conduction mechanisms, fabrication strategies, and target applications.
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Figure 2.
(A) Thermal conduction mechanism in crystalline materials; (B) Thermal conduction mechanism in amorphous polymers; Reproduced with permission from Ref. 12. Copyright 2016, Elsevier. (C) At low filler loading, no thermal conduction pathway is formed. Phonon conduction transfers between the fillers and the polymer matrix with high interfacial impedance, resulting in severe interfacial heat dissipation; (D) At higher filler loading, a thermal pathway is formed, improving the phonon transport efficiency; Reproduced with permission from Ref. 14. Copyright 2018, Elsevier. (E) The thermal conductivity of BN/PDMS composites increases with the increase in BN loading. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 15. Copyright 2016, Elsevier.
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Figure 3.
(A) Schematic illustration of the fabrication of silicone rubber composites with highly vertically aligned hexagonal BNNSs/CF networks via multi-stage stretching extrusion, layer-by-layer stacking, and hot-pressing processes. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 54. Copyright 2023, Elsevier. (B) Schematic illustration of the core–sheath phase-change fibers containing axially aligned hydroxylated BNNSs with high thermal conductivity, superior heat conduction performance, and ultrafast heat transfer via a coaxial wet-spinning process based on non-solvent induced phase separation (NIPS). Reproduced with permission from Ref. 55. Copyright 2025, Wiley. (C) Schematic diagram of the preparation of composites with 3D-bridge architecture based on magnetic field orientation. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 56. Copyright 2025, Springer. (D) Schematic illustration of the fabrication of dopamine-functionalized BNNSs/polyacrylonitrile (PAN) core-shell nanofiber membranes via electrospinning combined with a hot-pressing process. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 57. Copyright 2025, Elsevier. (E) Schematic illustration of the fabrication of high density polyethylene (HDPE)/BN composites using a rotational shear system. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 58. Copyright 2023, Elsevier.
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Figure 4.
(A) Schematic illustration of the formation of aramid nanofibers (ANF)/BNNSs films via a unidirectional freezing and thaw-gelation process. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 64. Copyright 2025, Springer Nature. (B) Schematic illustration of the fabrication of BN/polyurethane (PU) composites with a biaxially oriented network using a modified bidirectional freezing method. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 65. Copyright 2022, American Chemical Society. (C) Schematic illustration of the fabrication of epoxy resin (EP)/C/BNNSs/cellulose nanofibrils (CNFs) composites via a salt-templating method. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 66. Copyright 2023, Elsevier. (D) Schematic illustration of the fabrication of GPU-BNNSs nanocomposites via a solvent exchange-induced self-assembly strategy. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 67. Copyright 2025, Wiley.
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Figure 5.
(A) Schematic illustration of the fabrication of a multilayer crosslinked oriented BNNSs/Ca-SA/D film via stretch induction. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 69. Copyright 2026, Elsevier. (B) Assembly of BN flakes via micro-molding technology to further construct bi-directional thermally conductive composites. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 70. Copyright 2025, Wiley. (C) Assembly of continuous arrays of BNNSs on a tetrahedral structure to construct 3D thermal pathways and further fabricate anisotropic thermally conductive composites. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 71. Copyright 2019, Wiley. (D) Schematic illustration of the fabrication of V–BNF/SR composites with a vertically aligned structure via a stacking-cutting method. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 72. Copyright 2024, Elsevier.
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Figure 6.
(A) Thermal Management Performance of Phase Change Composites with Covalently Interconnected BN/Carbon Nanotube Hybrid Networks in Commercial
18650 Batteries. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 73. Copyright 2026, Wiley. (B) Assembled BNNSs-Based Heat Dissipation Directors for Neural Probes. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 74. Copyright 2023, Wiley. (C) Thermal Management and Mechanical Protection of Paraffin/BN Phase Change Composite Lithium-Ion Battery Systems Treated with a Polyethylene “Inner Layer”. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 75. Copyright 2024, Wiley. (D) 3D Printing-Assisted Orientation of BN for High-Performance Solar Evaporators. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 76. Copyright 2026, Wiley. (E) Schematic Diagram of the Cooling Principle of Regenerable Radiative-Evaporative Cooling Films. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 77. Copyright 2026, Elsevier. (F) Wearable Textiles for Personal Thermal Management. Reproduced with permission from Ref. 78. Copyright 2026, Wiley.