The Structure and Reactivity of Boron Surfaces
Abstract
This is the final technical report on a project designed to apply the experimental techniques of modern surface science to address issues loosely related to the combustion of boron particles. Boron particles have potential application as a fuel. Our experiments focused on the reaction of O2 with the (111) surface of Beta-rhombohedral boron to produce B2O3 and the subsequent reactions involved in desorbing B2O3 from the boron surface. We find that the reactivity with O2 is low throughout the temperature range of 300-1300 K. We find that the net uptake of O by the surface is at a maximum in the temperature range of 800-1100 K but that at most only submonolayers of B2O3 are formed. When B2O3 is directly deposited on the surface, it reacts with the substrate in the temperature range of 1100 to 1300 K to produce B2O2. In separate experiments, we have used scanning tunneling microscopy to obtain atomically resolved images of the LaB6 (100) surface.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 26, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA247265
Entities
People
- Michael Trenary
Organizations
- University of Chicago