LAUSR

Low-dimensional boron nitride (BN) chains were prepared in the one-dimensional pores of the siliceous zeolites theta-one (TON) and Mobil-twelve (MTW) by the infiltration, followed by the dehydrocoupling and pyrolysis of ammonia borane under high-pressure, high-temperature conditions. High-pressure X-ray diffraction in a diamond anvil cell and in a large-volume device was used to follow in situ these different steps in order to determine the optimal conditions for this process. Based on these results, millimeter-sized samples of BN/TON and BN/MTW were synthesized. Characteristic B-N stretching vibrations of low-dimensional BN were observed by infrared and Raman spectroscopies. The crystal structures were determined using a combination of X-ray diffraction and density functional theory with one and two one-dimensional zig-zag (BN)x chains per pore in BN/TON and BN/MTW, respectively. These 1-D BN chains potentially have interesting photoluminescence properties in the far ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum.