Hexaboride

Uses. In spite of unique properties, there are few commercial appUcations for monolithic shapes of borides. They are used for resistance-heated boats (with boron nitride), for aluminum evaporation, and for sliding electrical contacts. There are a number of potential uses ia the control and handling of molten metals and slags where corrosion and erosion resistance are important. Titanium diboride and zirconium diboride are potential cathodes for the aluminum Hall cells (see Aluminum and aluminum alloys). Lanthanum hexaboride and cerium hexaboride are particularly useful as cathodes ia electronic devices because of their high thermal emissivities, low work functions, and resistance to poisoning. 

The diagrams also indicate why neutral c/oio-boranes BnHn4.2 are unknown since the 2 anionic charges are effectively located in the low-lying inwardly directed orbital which has no overlap with protons outside the cluster (e.g. above the edges or faces of the Bg oct edron). Replacement of the 6 Ht by 6 further builds up the basic three-dimensional network of hexaborides MB6 (p. 150) just as replacement of the 4 H in CH4 begins to build up the diamond lattice. 

Hexaborides of a CaBg type are formed by K, the alkaline earths, Y and the larger lanthanides, as well as Th and some actinides ". The crystal structure of these compounds with cubic symmetry (Pm3m, O, ) (see Fig. 1) is characterized by a three-dimensional skeleton of Bg boron octahedra, the interstices of which are filled by metal atoms. The connection between two octahedra is by a B—B bond of length 1.66 X 10 pm, whereas the B—B bond lengths in one octahedron are 1.76 X 10 pm. ... 

The homogeneity ranges and defect structures of the hexaborides lead to deviations from stoichiometry through the cation defects (see Table 1). 

Borides with Three-Dimensional Boron Networks 6.7.2.4.2. CaBg-Type Hexaborides. 

---