Synthesis and oxidation behavior of boron-substituted carbon powders by hot filament chemical vapor deposition

Boron-substituted carbon powder, B _x C_1−x with x up to 0.17, has been successfully synthesized by hot filament chemical vapor deposition. The boron concentration in prepared B _x C_1−x samples can be controlled by varying the relative proportions of methane and diborane. X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and electron energy loss spectrum confirm the successful synthesis of an amorphous BC₅ compound, which consists of 10–20 nm particles with disk-like morphology. Thermogravimetry measurement shows that BC₅ compound starts to oxidize approximately at 620°C and has a higher oxidation resistance than carbon. Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 10474083, 50472051, 50532020, 50672081) and the National Basic Research Program of China (Grant No. 2005CB724400)