skip to main content
OSTI.GOV title logo U.S. Department of Energy
Office of Scientific and Technical Information

Title: Structure of icosahedral borides by Raman spectroscopy

Conference · · AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States)
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1063/1.40841· OSTI ID:7202442
; ;  [1]
  1. Sandia National Laboratories, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87185 (United States)

We have obtained Raman spectra of icosahedral boron-rich solids. The spectra of {alpha}-rhombohedral boron, boron arsenide, and boron phosphide are consistent with highly-ordered materials. Polarization studies have resulted in symmetry assignments for most of the Raman bands of {alpha}-rhombohedral boron. In contrast, the Raman spectra of the boron carbides reveal local substitutional disorder. They also change progressively as a function of carbon content. A structural model for the boron carbides has been developed to explain the Raman and infrared absorption spectra, x-ray data, and electrical and thermal transport properties. Raman spectra of boron carbide samples enriched in {sup 10}B, {sup 11}B, and {sup 13}C reveal details of the atomic motions. The vibrational frequencies and exceptionally narrow linewidths of certain Raman modes are discussed in terms of a strong'' bond model. In this model certain vibrational modes involving relatively stiff bonds between chain atoms, chain and icosahedral atoms, and atoms on different icosahedra are decoupled from the boride lattice by weak, intraicosahedral bonds.

DOE Contract Number:
AC04-76DP00789
OSTI ID:
7202442
Report Number(s):
CONF-900870-; CODEN: APCPC; TRN: 92-027249
Journal Information:
AIP Conference Proceedings (American Institute of Physics); (United States), Vol. 231:1; Conference: 10. international symposium on borons, borides and related compounds, Albuquerque, NM (United States), 27-30 Aug 1990; ISSN 0094-243X
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English