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Theory and practice: bulk synthesis of C3B and its H-2- and Li-storage capacity

Research output: Contribution to Journal/MagazineJournal articlepeer-review

Published
  • Timothy C. King
  • Peter D. Matthews
  • Hugh Glass
  • Jonathan A. Cormack
  • Juan Pedro Holgado
  • Michal Leskes
  • John M. Griffin
  • Oren A. Scherman
  • Paul D. Barker
  • Clare P. Grey
  • Sian E. Dutton
  • Richard M. Lambert
  • Gary Tustin
  • Ali Alavi
  • Dominic S. Wright
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<mark>Journal publication date</mark>11/05/2015
<mark>Journal</mark>Angewandte Chemie International Edition
Issue number20
Volume54
Number of pages5
Pages (from-to)5919-5923
Publication StatusPublished
Early online date25/03/15
<mark>Original language</mark>English

Abstract

Previous theoretical studies of C3B have suggested that boron-doped graphite is a promising H-2- and Li-storage material, with large maximum capacities. These characteristics could lead to exciting applications as a lightweight H-2-storage material for automotive engines and as an anode in a new generation of batteries. However, for these applications to be realized a synthetic route to bulk C3B must be developed. Here we show the thermolysis of a single-source precursor (1,3-BBr2)(2)C6H4) to produce graphitic C3B, thus allowing the characteristics of this elusive material to be tested for the first time. C3B was found to be compositionally uniform but turbostratically disordered. Contrary to theoretical expectations, the H-2- and Li-storage capacities are lower than anticipated, results that can partially be explained by the disordered nature of the material. This work suggests that to model the properties of graphitic materials more realistically, the possibility of disorder must be considered.