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Hexagonal boron nitride (h-BN), a unique two-dimensional (2D) material, has emerged as a promising catalyst in various industrial applications. This review paper delves into the revolutionary strides made in the sphere of catalysis by harnessing the properties of mainly h-BN nanosheets (h-BNNSs) and h-BN Quantum dots (h-BNQDs), achieved through innovative synthesis methods and their diverse applications. The paper begins by elucidating the distinctive characteristics of h-BN, such as its high thermal stability, excellent chemical inertness, and remarkable electronic properties. These intrinsic features make h-BN an ideal candidate for catalytic applications, prompting researchers to focus on developing novel synthesis techniques. The synthesis section reviews cutting-edge methodologies, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD), microwave-assisted methods, liquid-phase exfoliation (LPE), and hydrothermal, highlighting each approach’s advantages and limitations. The pursuit of scalable and cost-effective synthesis methods is underscored to enable the widespread utilization of h-BN in catalysis. The review explores the catalytic power of h-BN in diverse applications in the energy conversion domain, Moving beyond synthesis. h-BN’s catalytic activity in hydrogen evolution reactions (HER), oxygen reduction reactions (ORR), oxygen evolution reactions (OER), nitrogen reduction reactions (NRR), and others are thoroughly examined, showcasing its potential in clean energy technologies and other energy conversion processes. The electronic structure and surface properties of h-BN are examined carefully to comprehend the underlying principles guiding its catalytic behavior. The synergistic effects of combining h-BNNSs and h-BNQDs with catalytic materials are also explored, opening avenues for designing multifunctional catalytic systems. This review highlights the untapped potential of h-BNQDs for catalytic applications. The review concludes by outlining the current challenges and prospects in the field. Strategies for overcoming material scalability, long-term stability, and enhanced catalytic performance are proposed. The potential incorporation of h-BN with emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, is also discussed, envisioning a future where catalysis is revolutionized through intelligent material design.

The rational design and synthesis of bifunctionally active and durable oxygen electrocatalysts have garnered significant attention for electrochemical energy conversion and storage. Intermetallic nanostructures are particularly promising for these applications due to their unique catalytic properties and exceptional durability. In this study, we present a fascinating synthetic approach for the direct synthesis of a bifunctional oxygen electrocatalyst based on nitrogen-doped carbon-encapsulated ordered Pd3Fe (o-Pd3Fe@NC) intermetallic, using a cyano-bridged bimetallic single-source precursor tailored for aqueous rechargeable zinc-air batteries (ZABs). Through temperature-controlled annealing of a bipyridine-containing Pd–Fe cyano-bridged polymer network, a catalytically active o-Pd3Fe@NC catalyst is obtained. The spatial confinement of Pd(II) and Fe(II) within the polymer network facilitates the controlled growth of the o-Pd3Fe nanostructure. This intermetallic catalyst exhibits bifunctional activity for both the oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) and oxygen evolution reaction (OER). The o-Pd3Fe@NC catalyst achieves an ORR onset potential of 0.98 V and demonstrates remarkable long-term stability, sustaining performance over 30,000 cycles in alkaline electrolytes without noticeable degradation. The rechargeable liquid and flexible ZABs constructed with the o-Pd3Fe@NC air cathode deliver outstanding energy performance, achieving maximum power densities of 212.9 and 109 mW cm–2, respectively. The liquid ZAB delivers a specific capacity of 816 mAh gZn–1and exhibits excellent charge–discharge cycling stability, maintaining a consistent charge–discharge voltage gap over 200 h. The flexible ZAB retains its charge-storage performance across all bending angles.