Surface oxides of boron and B₁₂O₂ as determined by XPS

Abstract

Mound Laboratories has been investigating pyrotechnic materials for several years. Prior studies on the mechanism of ignition have been performed on Ti/KCIO, and Ti/ZB mixtures. Tbese studies have shown the importance of the surface oxides of these materials in determining the mechanism of ignition. In the present study, XPS spectra of fused metal, oxidized fused boron and boron metal powder have been recorded. The spectra are interpeted by including the presence of a continuous boron suboxide layer. The results presented here are different from those previously reported, which suggests that the formation of boron oxide occurs in islets. The predominant suboxide will be shown to be B,O,, where x/y = 3. This oxide was found to be present independent of the degree of oxidation. Including this oxide in thickness calculations shows the oxidation of powders to be five layers or so thick, and also aids in understanding Ti/ZB ignition.

Transformation of metallic boron into substitutional dopants in graphene on6H−SiC(0001)

“…Since its BE is found to be the same as the one reported for metallic B [23] and since LEED still presents a sharp (3×3) pattern, we assign this peak to unreacted B present at the surface (B (3×3) ). We note in passing that due to previous preparations, a small quantity of B (3×3) is detectable on the clean (3×3) reconstruction.…”

X-ray photoemission study of CoFeB∕MgO thin film bilayers

“…Thus we attribute the large and broad O 1s peak at ϳ532 eV for this sample to a mixture of surface oxygen and BO x . 6,7,11 The O 1s spectrum from the 1 nm MgO͓rf͔ sample shown in Fig. 2͑c͒ also has a broad dominant peak at ϳ531 eV and a much smaller peak at ϳ530 eV, with the latter attributable to FeO x .…”

“…1͑a͔͒ exhibit a peak at ϳ188 eV and a small peak at ϳ192 eV due to B in the electrode and oxidized B, respectively. 6,7 Figure 1͑b͒ shows the Mg 2p, Fe 3p, and Co 3p spectral regions. The metallic Co 3p ͑ϳ59.4 eV͒ and Fe 3p ͑ϳ52.7 eV͒ peaks 5 provide comparison for the peak at ϳ50 eV due to Mg cations in the MgO layer.…”

Combined x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy studies of the LiBH4–MgH2 reactive hydride composite with and without a Ti-based additive

“…MgB 2 appears in the B 1s at 185.8 eV and its oxides at 187.4 and 191.1 eV which are identified to the oxides B x O y ͑x / y=3͒ and B x O y ͑1.5Ͻ x / y Ͻ 3͒ according to the literature. 32 The TiO 2 reference shows the Ti 2p doublet with a Ti 2p 3/2 at 458.5 eV characteristic of TiO 2 photoemission peaks. 31 31 The surface oxidation of the titanium boride reference is clear in Fig.…”