- BeDimensional and Rice University achieve significant results demonstrating that few-layer hBN can destroy PFAS “forever chemicals”, among the most persistent and harmful contaminants known, breaking some of the strongest bonds in chemistry.
- The study confirms the potential of metal-free photocatalysts to break carbon–fluorine bonds, enabling sustainable and energy-efficient water treatment.
- The partnership brings together BeDimensional’s expertise in two-dimensional materials and the scientific leadership of Prof. Michael S. Wong’s group of the Catalysis and Nanomaterials Laboratory at Rice University.
- The results mark a strategic milestone toward the development of low-impact technologies capable of eliminating highly persistent and toxic pollutants.
Genoa / Houston, December 2025– BeDimensional S.p.A., a leading deep-tech company in the industrial production of two-dimensional crystals, and the Catalysis and Nanomaterials Laboratory, directed by Prof. Michael S. Wong at Rice University (Texas, USA), internationally recognized for excellence in catalysis and PFAS water remediation technologies, announced major scientific evidence on the performance of few-layer hexagonal boron nitride (FL-hBN) in the destruction of PFAS contaminants.
The material, industrially produced by BeDimensional, has been shown to destroy PFAS “forever chemicals” under UVC irradiation, a result of high environmental significance given the global concern surrounding these persistent contaminants.
PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are among the most challenging pollutants ever produced. Their carbon–fluorine bonds are some of the strongest known in chemistry, making PFAS extremely resistant to natural degradation and difficult to eliminate from groundwater, soil, and drinking-water supplies. Scientists around the world have long sought materials capable of breaking these bonds efficiently and safely.
Prof. Wong’s group at Rice University showed that BeDimensional’s few-layer hBN can achieve this destruction, delivering significant PFAS degradation and defluorination even at low catalyst loading. No energy to heat or to pressurize the reaction, because this destruction occurs at ambient conditions.
The laboratory results confirm that FL-hBN degrades PFAS by breaking the C–F bonds, enabling their transformation into harmless fluoride ions and small benign molecules. This is an important finding because metal-free photocatalysts capable of PFAS destruction are rare, and FL-hBN’s performance reveals a promising pathway for scalable, sustainable remediation. Furthermore, the FL-hBN is more active than conventional hBN for PFAS destruction, highlighting the unique properties of few-layer hBN.
A partnership that advances environmental sustainability
The collaboration marks a significant step forward in the exploration of innovative materials for pollutant destruction. The research benefits from BeDimensional’s capabilities to industrially produce high-quality few-layer materials and Rice University’s deep expertise in catalysts that enable the sustainable use and management of natural resources.
Key outcomes of the collaboration
- Strong photocatalytic performance: few-layer hBN achieved 48% PFOA degradation in 2 hours, compared to 20% for TiO₂.
- Efficient Molecular PFAS destruction: FL-hBN reached 35% defluorination, significantly higher than TiO₂ (7%).
- High intrinsic reactivity: FL-hBN delivered strong activity even when used at very low dosage in water (e.g. one-fifth the mass of bulk hBN benchmarks is already functional).
Statements
Vittorio Pellegrini, CEO of BeDimensional, commented: “This collaboration with Rice University marks an important evolution in our mission to bring advanced two-dimensional materials into strategic applications for environmental sustainability. The performance of few-layer hBN in PFAS destruction demonstrates its potential to support next-generation water treatment technologies.”
Michael Wong, Director of Rice PAR (Rice University PFAS Abatement and Replacement Center)added: “Working with BeDimensional allows us to explore innovative, metal-free materials with promising catalytic properties. These results open new opportunities for designing efficient, sustainable, and scalable processes for eliminating persistent contaminants.”
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BeDimensional SpA
BeDimensional
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BeDimensional SpA
BeDimensional is a leading company in the production and development of high-quality few-layer graphene (FLG) and few-layer hexagonal boron nitride (FLhBN or FLB). Its mission is to produce these two-dimensional crystals on an industrial scale and at competitive costs, revolutionizing the manufacturing sector with more efficient, sustainable, and high-performance materials.
Founded as a spin-off from the Graphene Labs of the Italian Institute of Technology Foundation, a global center of excellence in materials research, BeDimensional’s deep scientific know-how serves as the foundation for its business plan aimed at a rapid transition towards full industrialization.
BeDimensional’s process produces FLG and FLhBN with atomic-layer thicknesses, making them the highest quality materials available on the two-dimensional crystals market. These crystals can be easily integrated into any material, endowing it with multiple properties that enhance its performance and durability. BeDimensional’s technologies have been successfully applied in a variety of sectors, from energy storage and conversion products to smart textiles, paints, coatings, and composite materials.
BeDimensional’s proven technologies and growth potential have attracted the interest of major investors such as Eni Next, venture capital funds including CDP Venture, Eureka! Venture, and Nova Capital, Pellan as well as the European Investment Bank.
BeDimensional recently announced a €20 million Venture Debt financing from the European Investment Bank (EIB) and inaugurated in Genoa its new two-dimensional crystal production facility, the BEFAB – BeDimensional Fabrication Plant, with the aim of scaling production from 3 to over 30 tons by 2027, supporting the growing demand for two-dimensional materials in key sectors such as construction, energy, and advanced materials