Structural Characterization of Graphite Analogue BC x Synthesized Under Various Conditions and Its Application to Ti Intercalation

A graphite-like material boron carbide (BCx) was synthesized under various heat treatment conditions and extensively characterized. First, we synthesized the BCx precursor phase by a single-step reaction using a mixed solution of BBr3 and C6H6. We confirmed that the precursor phase had a graphite-like structure with B-C chemical bonds, but its crystallinity was poor. To improve their crystallinity, we annealed the precursor sample at high temperature using a high-frequency furnace and determined the annealing condition. We also investigated the magnetic properties of BCx. The high-temperature annealing for the precursor phase yields the highest Pauli paramagnetic susceptibility chi(Pauli), indicating the highest density of states at the Fermi level. Accordingly, the high-temperature treatment for the precursor phase is significant to improve its crystallinity and physical properties. In addition, we synthesized a Ti-intercalated material TiBC by using the same procedure as that for making the BCx precursor phase. The crystal structure can be indexed by the AlB2 structure, indicating that Ti atoms are intercalated between the BC layers. The chi(Pauli) value of TiBC is obtained to be 1 order of magnitude smaller than that of BCx, suggesting the compensation of hole carriers by electron doping through Ti intercalation into the BCx system.

Automated summary

A graphite-like material BCx and its precursor phase were synthesized and characterized in this study. High-temperature annealing was found to improve the crystallinity and physical properties of BCx. Ti intercalation into the BCx system was found to compensate hole carriers and alter its magnetic properties.