Syntheses and Structures of New Graphite-like Materials of Composition BCN(H) and BC₃N(H)

Abstract

New graphite-like materials of composition BC 0.9-1.3 N 0.8-0.9 H 0.4-0.7 and BC 3.0-3.2 N 0.8-1.0 H 0.2-2, which are described as BCN(H) and BC 3 N(H), have been prepared by the interaction of acetonitrile with boron trichloride in a hydrogen and nitrogen atmosphere and acrylonitrile with boron trichloride, respectively. X-ray and electron diffraction analyses indicate that these materials have hexagonal structures similar to that of graphite. ESCA spectra and the possible chemical bonds suggest that the ideal structure of BCN is made of the unit structure of BC 2 N + BN, while BC 3 N is composed of BC 3 N + BNC 3 . A BCN(H) plate has a basal-plane conductivity of 1.28 (Ω cm) -1 at room temperature, while a BC 3 N(H) plate has that of 88.5 (Ω cm) -1 . Thermoelectric measurements indicate that both materials behave as p-type semiconductors and a BCN(H) plate has a high Seebeck coefficient of 300 μV/°K at room temperature in air.