Synthesis and characterization of poly(aminoborane) as a new boron nitride precursor

Abstract

During the solution reaction of NaBH4/(NH4)2SO4 in tetraglyme to form borazine, polymeric aminoborane (NH2BH2)x has been isolated as a white powder. The powder was characterized by thermal gravimetric analysis/differential scanning calorimetry, infrared and mass spectroscopies, and powder X-ray diffraction. Solid-state 15N and 11B nuclear magnetic resonance firmly proved that the chain-like poly(aminoborane) evolved a partially condensed B3N3 ring structure by dehydrogenative condensation between chains at 200 °C. Pyrolysis of the polymer in a nitrogen stream up to 1400 °C led to a 75% yield of hexagonal boron nitride with an interlayer spacing of 3.37 Å. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.