Hexagonal boron nitride (BN) was synthesized through the carbothermic reduction reaction (CRR) of boric acid using lactose as a carbon source under the nitrogen atmosphere at 1500°C for 3 hours. The boron/carbon (B/C) molar ratio was controlled during the CRR, and the produced samples were investigated by XRD diffraction pattern, FTIR analysis, and Raman spectra. Boron carbide (B 4 C) was formed in samples that have a higher carbon content, in addition to boron nitride. While boron nitride pure sample was produced from lower carbon content samples. Formation of B 4 C was found to depend on the B/C molar ratio. The morphology of the produced powder was also investigated by SEM and TEM, which revealed that the samples consist of nanoneedles of BN and hexagonal particles of B 4 C. The vapor-solid (VS) reaction mechanism was processed greatly with increasing boron amount, producing boron nitride nanoneedles, which compete with the liquid-solid (LS) reaction mechanism. The physicochemical properties of the produced samples were studied by DTA, UV, PL, and AC impedance measurements, and revealed that the samples are promising to many proper applications.

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