Saraswat, RohitRohitSaraswatJames, Asha LizaAsha LizaJamesJasuja, KabeerKabeerJasuja2025-08-312025-08-312019-05-1910.1080/17436753.2019.15844812-s2.0-85062462429https://d8.irins.org/handle/IITG2025/23271We present the chemical exfoliation of magnesium diboride (MgB <inf>2</inf> ) by employing organic chelating agents for synthesising boron-based nanosheets in high yield. MgB <inf>2</inf> is a promising parent material towards realising quasi-2D forms of boron, owing to its unique layered constitution: graphenic boron planes interleaved with hexagonal arrays of Mg atoms. Chelating agents can selectively extract the interlayer Mg from MgB <inf>2</inf> in water, to form Mg-chelant complexes. The loss of Mg results in delamination of MgB <inf>2</inf> into boron-based nanosheets. This approach is further improved by rational choice of chelants with greater affinity for Mg and tuning the optimal pH for metal complexation, thereby leading to a better yield of nanosheets. These boron-based nanosheets have been explored for their candidacy as a new class of inorganic fillers in a polymeric matrix–polyvinyl alcohol (PVA). The mechanical and thermal properties of these boron-based nanosheet-PVA nanocomposite films have been studied.false2D boron | borophene | exfoliation | graphene analogues | metal borides | polymer nanocompositeArticle17436761209-21619 May 201921arJournal20WOS:000468823500007