Issue 7, 2018

Two-dimensional stoichiometric boron carbides with unexpected chemical bonding and promising electronic properties

Abstract

Exploring new two-dimensional materials with novel properties is becoming a particularly important task due to their potential applications in future nano-mechanics, electronics, and optoelectronics. In the present study, the hitherto unknown stable two-dimensional boron carbides with various stoichiometries are revealed via the structure swarm optimization method combined with first-principles calculations. The predicted new compounds are energetically more favorable compared with the previously proposed counterparts. Counterintuitively, we identify two B–C bonding patterns: pyramidal-geometry tetra-coordinated and hexa-coordinated sp2 carbon moiety. The intriguing covalent bonding modes create distinct and fascinating physical and chemical properties. For instance, we discover that the predicted B4C3 has an ultrahigh Young's modulus that can even outperform graphene; the B2C sheet is metallic with a relatively high superconducting transition temperature (Tc ≈ 21.20 K). On the other hand, the well-located band edge makes β-B3C2 a potentially promising metal-free optoelectronic material for visible-light water splitting.

Graphical abstract: Two-dimensional stoichiometric boron carbides with unexpected chemical bonding and promising electronic properties

Supplementary files

Article information

Article type
Paper
Submitted
03 Oct 2017
Accepted
27 Nov 2017
First published
28 Nov 2017

J. Mater. Chem. C, 2018,6, 1651-1658

Two-dimensional stoichiometric boron carbides with unexpected chemical bonding and promising electronic properties

D. Fan, S. Lu, Y. Guo and X. Hu, J. Mater. Chem. C, 2018, 6, 1651 DOI: 10.1039/C7TC04505K

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