2015/12/17 by Andrew J. Mannix, Xiang‐Feng Zhou, Brian Kiraly +12 · 2,736 citations
Materials Science · Medicine · Chemistry · #Boron and Carbon Nanomaterials Research #Boron Compounds in Chemistry #MXene and MAX Phase Materials #Boron #Anisotropy #Crystallography #Materials science #Chemistry #Physics #Organic chemistry #Optics
paper · pdf · doi:10.1126/science.aad1080
published in Science 350(6267), 1513-1516 (American Association for the Advancement of Science)
openalex publication_date 2015/12/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/08
At the atomic-cluster scale, pure boron is markedly similar to carbon, forming simple planar molecules and cage-like fullerenes. Theoretical studies predict that two-dimensional (2D) boron sheets will adopt an atomic configuration similar to that of boron atomic clusters. We synthesized atomically thin, crystalline 2D boron sheets (i.e., borophene) on silver surfaces under ultrahigh-vacuum conditions. Atomic-scale characterization, supported by theoretical calculations, revealed structures reminiscent of fused boron clusters with multiple scales of anisotropic, out-of-plane buckling. Unlike bulk boron allotropes, borophene shows metallic characteristics that are consistent with predictions of a highly anisotropic, 2D metal.