Beyond graphene: hydrogenated borophene as a next-generation adsorbent for ultra-fast water purification

Abstract

Rapid and efficient removal of organic pollutants remains critical for sustainable water remediation. Here, we present hydrogenated borophene (HB) as a novel two-dimensional adsorbent exhibiting ultra-fast kinetics and outstanding adsorption capacity compared to conventional carbon-based materials. HB achieves an exceptional methylene blue removal efficiency of 99.8 % within just 5 min, with a maximum monolayer adsorption capacity of 1428.57 mg/g, significantly surpassing activated carbon and graphene-based adsorbents. Adsorption kinetics closely follow the pseudo-second-order model, while the isotherm analysis fits the Langmuir model, indicating monolayer adsorption driven by electrostatic forces. Remarkably, HB maintains > 95 % removal efficiency across a broad pH range, demonstrating versatility for practical wastewater treatment. These findings position HB as a transformative material for next-generation adsorption technologies.