Novel Class of Rhenium Borides Based on Hexagonal Boron Networks Interconnected by Short B₂ Dumbbells

Title data

Bykova, Elena ; Johansson, Erik ; Bykov, Maxim ; Chariton, Stella ; Fei, Hongzhan ; Ovsyannikov, Sergey V. ; Aslandukova, Alena ; Gabel, Stefan ; Holz, Hendrik ; Merle, Benoit ; Alling, Björn ; Abrikosov, Igor A. ; Smith, Jesse S. ; Prakapenka, Vitali B. ; Katsura, Tomoo ; Dubrovinskaia, Natalia ; Goncharov, Alexander F. ; Dubrovinsky, Leonid:
Novel Class of Rhenium Borides Based on Hexagonal Boron Networks Interconnected by Short B₂ Dumbbells.
In: Chemistry of Materials. Vol. 34 (2022) Issue 18 . - pp. 8138-8152.
ISSN 1520-5002
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.chemmater.2c00520

Official URL:

Abstract in another language

Transition metal borides are known due to their attractive mechanical, electronic, refractive, and other properties. A new class of rhenium borides was identified by synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments in laser-heated diamond anvil cells between 26 and 75 GPa. Recoverable to ambient conditions, compounds rhenium triboride (ReB3) and rhenium tetraboride (ReB4) consist of close-packed single layers of rhenium atoms alternating with boron networks built from puckered hexagonal layers, which link short bonded (∼1.7 Å) axially oriented B2 dumbbells. The short and incompressible Re–B and B–B bonds oriented along the hexagonal c-axis contribute to low axial compressibility comparable with the linear compressibility of diamond. Sub-millimeter samples of ReB3 and ReB4 were synthesized in a large-volume press at pressures as low as 33 GPa and used for material characterization. Crystals of both compounds are metallic and hard (Vickers hardness, HV = 34(3) GPa). Geometrical, crystal-chemical, and theoretical analysis considerations suggest that potential ReBx compounds with x > 4 can be based on the same principle of structural organization as in ReB3 and ReB4 and possess similar mechanical and electronic properties.Transition metal borides are known due to their attractive mechanical, electronic, refractive, and other properties. A new class of rhenium borides was identified by synchrotron single-crystal X-ray diffraction experiments in laser-heated diamond anvil cells between 26 and 75 GPa. Recoverable to ambient conditions, compounds rhenium triboride (ReB3) and rhenium tetraboride (ReB4) consist of close-packed single layers of rhenium atoms alternating with boron networks built from puckered hexagonal layers, which link short bonded (∼1.7 Å) axially oriented B2 dumbbells. The short and incompressible Re–B and B–B bonds oriented along the hexagonal c-axis contribute to low axial compressibility comparable with the linear compressibility of diamond. Sub-millimeter samples of ReB3 and ReB4 were synthesized in a large-volume press at pressures as low as 33 GPa and used for material characterization. Crystals of both compounds are metallic and hard (Vickers hardness, HV = 34(3) GPa). Geometrical, crystal-chemical, and theoretical analysis considerations suggest that potential ReBx compounds with x > 4 can be based on the same principle of structural organization as in ReB3 and ReB4 and possess similar mechanical and electronic properties.

Further data

Item Type:	Article in a journal
Refereed:	Yes
Institutions of the University:	Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Group Material Sciences > Chair Crystallography Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Group Material Sciences > Professor Materials Physics and Technology at Extreme Conditions Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Group Material Sciences > Professor Materials Physics and Technology at Extreme Conditions > Professor Materials Physics and Technology at Extreme Conditions - Univ.-Prof. Dr. Natalia Doubrovinckaia Faculties Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science Faculties > Faculty of Mathematics, Physics und Computer Science > Group Material Sciences
Result of work at the UBT:	Yes
DDC Subjects:	500 Science > 530 Physics
Date Deposited:	16 Sep 2022 06:54
Last Modified:	07 Dec 2022 11:49
URI:	https://eref.uni-bayreuth.de/id/eprint/71845