Boron carbide, which has a high melting point, outstanding hardness, good mechanical properties, low specific weight, great resistance to chemical agents and high neutron absorption cross-section (10BxC, x>4) is currently used in high-technology industries—fast-breeders, lightweight armors and high-temperature thermoelectric conversion.

The contents of this review are: (1) introduction; (2) preparations—industrial preparative routes, powders, sintering (additives, pressureless, hot pressing, HIP); laboratory methods of synthesis (CVD, PVD, plasma, crystal growth); (3) analytical characterization; (4) phase diagram—a peritectic, nearly pure boron, and a wide phase homogeneity range (B4C-B10·5C); (5) rhombohedral crystal structure—a comprehensive model of the whole solid solution is proposed; (6) chemical properties; (7) physical properties—density, mechanical (strength, hardness, toughness) and thermo-electrical properties; (8) main industrial applications; (9) conclusion.

Boron carbide ― a comprehensive review

Boron carbide is characterized by a unique combination of properties that make it a material of choice for a wide range of engineering applications. Boron carbide is used in refractory applications due to its high melting point and thermal stability; it is used as abrasive powders and coatings due to its extreme abrasion resistance; it excels in ballistic performance due to its high hardness and low density; and it is commonly used in nuclear applications as neutron radiation absorbent. In addition, boron carbide is a high temperature semiconductor that can potentially be used for novel electronic applications. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent advances in understanding of structural and chemical variations in boron carbide and their influence on electronic, optical, vibrational, mechanical, and ballistic properties. Structural instability of boron carbide under high stresses associated with external loading and the nature of the resulting disordered phase are also discussed.

Boron Carbide: Structure, Properties, and Stability under Stress

Boron carbide is a strategic material, finding applications in nuclear industry, armour for personnel and vehicle safety, rocket propellant, etc. Its high hardness makes it suitable for grinding and cutting tools, ceramic bearing, wire drawing dies, etc. Boron carbide is commercially produced either by carbothermic reduction of boric acid in electric furnaces or by magnesiothermy in presence of carbon. Since many specialty applications of boron carbide require dense bodies, its densification is of great importance. Hot pressing and hot isostatic pressing are the main processes employed for densification. In the recent past, various researchers have made attempts to improve the existing methods and also invent new processes for synthesis and consolidation of boron carbide. All the techniques on synthesis and consolidation of boron carbide are discussed in detail and critically reviewed.

Synthesis and consolidation of boron carbide: a review

Carbon-oxide and carbon-sulfide nanocomposites have attracted tremendous interest as the anode materials for Li and Na ion batteries. Such composites are fascinating as they often show synergistic effect compared to their singular components. Carbon nanomaterials are often used as the matrix due to their high conductivity, tensile strength, and chemical stability under the battery condition. Metal oxides and sulfides are often used as active material fillers because of their large capacity. Numerous works have shown that by taking one step further into fabricating nanocomposites with rational structure design, much better performance can be achieved. The present review aims to present and discuss the development of carbon-based nanocomposite anodes in both Li ion batteries and Na ion batteries. The authors introduce the individual components in the composites, i.e., carbon matrices (e.g., carbon nanotube, graphene) and metal oxides/sulfides; followed by evaluating how advanced nanostructures benefit from the synergistic effect when put together. Particular attention is placed on strategies employed in fabricating such composites, with examples such as yolk–shell structure, layered-by-layered structure, and composite comprising one or more carbon matrices. Lastly, the authors conclude by highlighting challenges that still persist and their perspective on how to further develop the technologies.

A Review on Design Strategies for Carbon Based Metal Oxides and Sulfides Nanocomposites for High Performance Li and Na Ion Battery Anodes

Using Fourier Transform InfraRed (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), we characterize the structure and/or morphology of hematite (α-Fe2O3) particles with sizes of 7, 18, 39 and 120 nm. It is found that these nanoparticles possess maghemite (γ-Fe2O3)-like defects in the near surface regions, to which a vibrational mode at 690 cm−1, active both in FTIR and Raman spectra, is assigned. The fraction of the maghemite-like defects and the net lattice disorder are inversely related to the particle size. However, the effect is opposite for nanoparticles grown by sintering of smaller hematite precursors under conditions when the formation of a uniform hematite-like structure throughout the aggregate is restricted by kinetic issues. This means that not only particle size but also the growth kinetics determines the structure of the nanoparticles. The observed structural changes are interpreted as size-induced α-Fe2O3
				↔
				γ-Fe2O3 phase transitions. We develop a general model that considers spinel defects and absorbed/adsorbed species (in our case, hydroxyls) as dominant controls on structural changes with particle size in hematite nanoparticles, including solid-state phase transitions. These changes are represented by trajectories in a phase diagram built in three phase coordinates—concentrations of spinel defects, absorbed impurities, and adsorbed species. The critical size for the onset of the α
				→
				γ phase transition depends on the particle environment, and for the dry particles used in this study is about 40 nm. The model supports the existence of intermediate phases (protohematite and hydrohematite) during dehydration of goethite. We also demonstrate that the hematite structure is significantly less defective when the nanoparticles are immersed in water or KBr matrix, which is explained by the effects of the electrochemical double layer and increased rigidity of the particle environment. Finally, we revise the problem of applicability of IR spectroscopy to the lattice vibrations of hematite nanoparticles, demonstrating that structural comparison of different samples is much more reliable if it is based on the Eu band at about 460 cm−1 and the spinel band at 690 cm−1, instead of the A2u/Eu band at about 550 cm−1 used in previous work. The new methodology is applied to analysis of the reported IR spectra of Martian hematite.

Size-dependent structural transformations of hematite nanoparticles. 1. Phase transition.

In situ FTIR study on the dehydration of natural goethite

Effect of Sm3+–Gd3+ on structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Mn–Zn ferrites synthesized via combustion route

The electrical conductivity σ of polycrystalline NiZn ferrites of various compositions was investigated from room temperature to the neighbourhood of the Curie temperature. The electrical conduction in these ferrites is explained on the basis of the hopping mechanism. Plots of log(σT) versus 103/T are almost linear and show a transition near the Curie temperature. The activation energy in the ferrimagnetic region is in general less than that in the paramagnetic region.

S. Ramana Murthy

Papers

In situ FTIR study on the dehydration of natural goethite

Effect of Sm3+–Gd3+ on structural, electrical and magnetic properties of Mn–Zn ferrites synthesized via combustion route

Electrical conductivity of NiZn ferrites

Elastic properties of boron carbide

Structural and magnetic properties of Dy3+ doped Y3Fe5O12 for microwave devices