Thirty Years of Borophene: Origins, Scientific Progress, and Future Directions

Borophene, an atomically thin boron sheet, exhibits exceptional
polymorphism, metallic conductivity, and anisotropic mechanical behavior.
Interest in borophene is growing, reflected in the increase in scientific
publications and international collaborations. The 2D materials market
is projected to reach a size of 2030, and technology companies are
investing in its commercialization, especially for flexible electronics
and energy storage. This perspective integrates a comprehensive bibliometric
analysis with a critical evaluation of theoretical predictions, experimental
synthesis methods, phase stability, and ambient reactivity. In epitaxial
growth, emerging wet-chemical and exfoliation routes and functionalization
strategies. The influence of computational methodology on predicted
properties is discussed, highlighting inconsistencies among PBE, hybrid,
and correlated approaches. Finally, we outline key challenges, including
air stability, scalable synthesis, and device integration, and propose
research pathways needed to translate borophene from fundamental discovery
to practical technologies.