A boride is a compound between boron and a less electronegative element, for example silicon boride (SiB₃ and SiB₆). The borides are a very large group of compounds that are generally high melting and are covalent more than ionic in nature. Some borides exhibit very useful physical properties. The term boride is also loosely applied to compounds such as B₁₂As₂ (N.B. Arsenic has an electronegativity higher than boron) that is often referred to as icosahedral boride.

Ranges of compounds

The borides can be classified loosely as boron rich or metal rich, for example the compound YB₆₆ at one extreme through to Nd₂Fe₁₄B at the other. The generally accepted definition is that if the ratio of boron atoms to metal atoms is 4:1 or more, the compound is boron rich; if it is less, then it is metal rich.

Boron rich borides (B:M 4:1 or more)

The main group metals, lanthanides and actinides form a wide variety of boron-rich borides, with metal:boron ratios up to YB₆₆.

The properties of this group vary from one compound to the next, and include examples of compounds that are semi conductors, superconductors, diamagnetic, paramagnetic, ferromagnetic or anti-ferromagnetic.^[1] They are mostly stable and refractory.

Some metallic dodecaborides contain boron icosahedra, others (for example yttrium, zirconium and uranium) have the boron atoms arranged in cuboctahedra.^[2]

LaB₆ is an inert refractory compound, used in hot cathodes because of its low work function which gives it a high rate of thermionic emission of electrons; YB₆₆ crystals, grown by an indirect-heating floating zone method, are used as monochromators for low-energy synchrotron X-rays.^[3] VB₂ has shown some promise as potential material with higher energy capacity than lithium for batteries.^[4]

Metal rich borides (B:M less than 4:1)

The transition metals tend to form metal rich borides. Metal-rich borides, as a group, are inert and have high melting temperature. Some are easily formed and this explains their use in making turbine blades, rocket nozzles, etc. Some examples include AlB₂ and TiB₂. Recent investigations into this class of borides have revealed a wealth of interesting properties such as super conductivity at 39 K in MgB₂ and the ultra-incompressibility of OsB₂ and ReB₂.^[5]

Boride structures

The boron rich borides contain 3-dimensional frameworks of boron atoms that can include boron polyhedra. The metal rich borides contain single boron atoms, B₂ units, boron chains or boron sheets/layers.

Examples of the different types of borides are:

• isolated boron atoms, example Mn₄B
• B₂ units, example V₃B
• chains of boron atoms, example FeB
• sheets or layers of boron atoms CrB₂
• 3-dimensional boron frameworks that include boron polyhedra, example NaB₁₅ with boron icosahedra