Metal-Free Boron-Containing Heterogeneous Catalysts

Metal-free catalysts have distinct advantages over metal and metal oxide catalysts, such as lower cost as well as higher reliability and sustainability. Among the nonmetal compounds used in catalysis, boron-containing compounds with a few unique properties have been developed. In this Minireview, the recent advances in the field of boron-containing metal-free catalysts are presented, including binary and ternary boron-containing catalytic materials. Additionally, the three main applications in catalysis are considered, namely, electrocatalysis, thermal catalysis, and photocatalysis, with the role of boron discussed in depth for each specific catalytic application. Boron-containing compounds could have a substantial impact on the field of metal-free catalysts in the future.