Introducing Boron Buckyballs: Theory that B80 cages can’t be made is disproved
2 days ago
- #Boron Fullerene
- #Nanostructures
- #Experimental Chemistry
- Chemists have experimentally observed a boron buckminsterfullerene (B80) for the first time, resolving debates about its existence since 2007.
- The B80 cluster was produced by laser vaporization of a boron target with argon-cooled helium gas, yielding a photoelectron spectrum matching the fullerene structure.
- The finding contradicts computational predictions from density functional theory (DFT), which ranked the buckyball as less stable than other B80 structures.
- B80 is valence-isoelectronic with carbon buckyball C60, with similar bonding but potentially better electron acceptor properties and applications like semiconductors or hydrogen storage.
- Bulk synthesis of B80 remains a challenge due to boron's poor conductivity and natural isotopes, but the team plans reactivity tests and exploration of larger boron clusters.