Low pressure synthesis of boron nitride with (C₂H₅)₂O · BF₃ and Li₃N precursor

Abstract

Cubic boron nitride(c-BN) was synthesized through benzene thermal method at a lower temperature of 300 °C by selecting liquid (C₂H₅)₂O · BF₃ and Li₃N as reactants. Hexagonal boron nitride(h-BN) and orthorhombic boron nitride(o-BN) were also obtained. The samples were characterized by X-ray powder diffractometry and Fourier transformation infrared spectroscopy. The results show that all the BF₃, BCl₃ and BBr₃ in the same family compounds can react with Li₃N to synthesize BN since the strongest bond of B-F can be broken. Compared with BBr₃, liquid (C₂H₅)₂O · BF₃ is cheaper, less toxic and more convenient to operate. Li₃N not only provides nitrogen source but also has catalytic effect on accelerating the formation of c-BN at low temperature and pressure.

Keywords

benzene thermal method / boron nitride / boron trifluoride etherate / lithium nitride / cubic boron nitride / orthorhombic boron nitride / hexagonal boron nitride