Boron carbide spherical particles encapsulated in graphite prepared by pulsed laser irradiation of boron in liquid medium

B4C submicron particles were obtained by laser irradiation of B particles in ethyl acetate under atmospheric pressure and room temperature. Absorbed laser energy brought about B melting and decomposition of surrounding liquid medium molecules, leading to a reaction between the melted B and carbon species to form B4C. Moreover, the obtained B4C particles were encapsulated in a graphite layer. Such a graphite surface layer is useful for medical functionalization of particles. Thus, obtained B4C particles encapsulated in graphite are expected to be promising agents for boron neutron capture therapy. (C) 2007 American Institute of Physics.