Preparation, Mössbauer spectra, and structure of intercalation compounds of boron nitride with metal halides

Abstract

Evidence has been obtained which confirms that boron nitride forms intercalation compounds with a number of metal halides (FeCl₃, CuCl, Hg₂l₂, and AsCl₃). The Mössbauer spectrum of the iron(III) chloride compound shows that the intercalated iron nucleus lies in a strong electrical-field gradient, and that the d-electron population has been reduced compared to that of high-spin iron(III) in free iron(III) chloride. It is suggested that bonding, in these compounds, is due to electron transfer from the intercalated molecule to the BN layers, and that the intercalated molecules are isolated from each other.