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Ionic high-pressure form of elemental boron

Author

Listed:
  • Artem R. Oganov

    (Laboratory of Crystallography, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
    Moscow State University
    Present address: Department of Geosciences and New York Center for Computational Science, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-2100, USA.)

  • Jiuhua Chen

    (Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA
    Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York 11794-2100, USA)

  • Carlo Gatti

    (CNR-ISTM Istituto di Scienze e Tecnologie Molecolari, via Golgi 19, 20133 Milano, Italy)

  • Yanzhang Ma

    (Texas University of Technology, 7th Street & Boston Avenue, Lubbock, Texas 79409, USA)

  • Yanming Ma

    (Laboratory of Crystallography, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
    National Laboratory of Superhard Materials, Jilin University)

  • Colin W. Glass

    (Laboratory of Crystallography, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Str. 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland)

  • Zhenxian Liu

    (Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington)

  • Tony Yu

    (Florida International University, Miami, Florida 33199, USA)

  • Oleksandr O. Kurakevych

    (LPMTM-CNRS, Université Paris Nord, Villetaneuse, F-93430, France)

  • Vladimir L. Solozhenko

    (LPMTM-CNRS, Université Paris Nord, Villetaneuse, F-93430, France)

Abstract

A new form of boron Boron is an element of fascinating chemical complexity. This arises from frustration: situated between metals and insulators in the periodic table, boron has only three valence electrons that could in principle favour metallicity, yet they are sufficiently localized to give rise to an insulating state. This delicately balanced electronic structure is easily modified by pressure, temperature and impurities, making it difficult to establish boron's structure and properties. Oganov et al. have now explored the high-pressure behaviour of boron and uncovered a previously unknown ionic phase consisting of negatively charged icosahedral B12 clusters and positively charged B2 pairs. The ionicity of the new phase strongly affects many of its properties, and arises from the different electronic properties of the B12 clusters and B2 pairs and the resultant charge transfer between them.

Suggested Citation

  • Artem R. Oganov & Jiuhua Chen & Carlo Gatti & Yanzhang Ma & Yanming Ma & Colin W. Glass & Zhenxian Liu & Tony Yu & Oleksandr O. Kurakevych & Vladimir L. Solozhenko, 2009. "Ionic high-pressure form of elemental boron," Nature, Nature, vol. 457(7231), pages 863-867, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:457:y:2009:i:7231:d:10.1038_nature07736
    DOI: 10.1038/nature07736
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