Scientists Synthesize Imma-B60 Boron Allotrope With 23% Plasticity and 9×10^2 S m−1 Conductivity
Updated
Updated · BIOENGINEER.ORG · Sep 23
Scientists Synthesize Imma-B60 Boron Allotrope With 23% Plasticity and 9×10^2 S m−1 Conductivity
3 articles · Updated · BIOENGINEER.ORG · Sep 23
Summary
Imma-B60 combines two properties rarely achieved together in boron: electrical conductivity of about 9×10^2 S m−1 and plastic deformation of roughly 23%.
The material was made in two steps—high-pressure synthesis of a Na4B60 precursor, then sodium degassing—yielding an open-framework B60 structure built from B12 icosahedra and triangular B3 units.
Electronic tests showed a narrow bandgap below 0.2 eV, while the reported conductivity is seven orders of magnitude higher than β-boron.
Compression experiments linked the plasticity to dislocation-mediated slip, a notable departure from boron's usual superhard, brittle and semiconducting behavior.
The result points to a precursor-based route for metastable materials and could broaden boron's use beyond conventional hard-phase applications.
Scientists unlocked a highly conductive, bendable boron phase using a precursor trick; what other impossible materials are hiding in plain sight?
Could a rare, shape-shifting boron crystal revolutionize flexible electronics, or will its extreme synthesis conditions keep it trapped in the lab?
Redefining Boron: Imma-B60’s Record 23% Plasticity and 10⁷× Conductivity Leap via Guest-Removal Synthesis
Overview
Imma-B60 is a new boron allotrope that breaks the old limits of boron’s brittleness and poor conductivity. Scientists used a two-step process: first, they grew large sodium boride crystals by adding zinc layers, then removed the sodium to leave a pure boron framework. This created a porous, cage-like structure where charge moves easily, making Imma-B60 a highly conductive, ductile material that can bend without breaking. While this sacrifices some hardness, the material resists oxidation and opens new possibilities for flexible electronics and advanced devices. The synthesis method also offers a universal blueprint for discovering other advanced materials.