Osmium borides


Image:OsB2structure.JPG|right|thumb|Structure of orthorhombic OsB2. Green atoms are Os, pink – boron
Osmium borides are compounds of osmium and boron. Their most remarkable property is potentially high hardness. It is thought that a combination of high electron density of osmium with the strength of boron-osmium covalent bonds will make osmium borides superhard materials, however this has not been demonstrated yet. For example, OsB2 is hard, but not superhard.

Synthesis

Osmium borides are produced in vacuum or inert atmosphere to prevent formation
of osmium tetroxide, which is a hazardous compound. Synthesis occurs at high temperatures from a mixture of MgB2 and OsCl3.

Structure

Three osmium borides are known: OsB, Os2B3 and OsB2. The first two have hexagonal structure, similar to that of rhenium diboride. Osmium diboride was first also sought as hexagonal, but one of its phases was later reassigned to orthorhombic. In recent methods of synthesis, it has also been found that a hexagonal phase of OsB2 exists with a similar structure to ReB2.