High-pressure high-temperature synthesis and structure of α-tetragonal boron

Microcrystals of alpha-tetragonal (alpha-t) boron with unit cell parameters a = 9.05077(6) and c = 5.13409(6) angstrom and measured density 2.16-2.22 g cm(-3) were obtained by pyrolysis of decaborane B10H14 at pressures of 8-9 GPa and temperatures of 1100-1600 degrees C. The crystal structure is in good agreement with the model proposed by Hoard et al (1958 J. Am. Chem. Soc. 80 4507). However, compared to the original model, we found small deformations of icosahedra and changes in the interatomic distances within the unit cell of the synthesized alpha-t boron.