Synthesis of New Materials in the Boron–Carbon System

Abstract

Experimental results from the synthesis of diamond-like BC_x compounds with the aid of high-pressure techniques and laser sputtering methods are presented. A combination of unique characteristics in these compounds can be attained by varying the B/C ratio. The possibility of sputtering carbon films of micron or nanosize thickness with high boron content opens up a way to use such materials on industrial scales. Hetero-diamonds with high boron content have high elastic moduli and boron-doped diamond polycrystals possess metallic conductivity.