Relative stability of planar clusters B11, B12, and B13 in neutral- and charged-states

Abstract

Theoretically, within the diatomic model, there is studied the relative stability of most abundant boron clusters B11, B12, and B13 with planar structures in neutral, positively and negatively charge-states. According to the specific (pet atom) binding energy criterion, B12+ (6.49 eV) is found to be the most stable boron cluster, while B11– + B13+ (5.83 eV) neutral pair is expected to present the preferable ablation channel for boron-rich solids. Obtained results would be applicable in production of boron-clusters-based nanostructured coating materials with super-properties such as lightness, hardness, conductivity, chemically inertness, neutron-absorption, etc. making them especially effective for protection against cracking, wear, corrosion, neutron- and electromagnetic-radiations, etc.