Producing cubic boron nitride using a Li-Fe-N hybrid catalyst
The synthesis of cubic boron nitride using a Li-Fe-N hybrid catalyst is studies. It is found that the use of Li-Fe-N hybrid catalyst leads to an increase in the conversion of hexagonal boron nitride to cubic modification up to 11 % due to the formation of defect structures supersaturated with nitrogen. The introduction of iron in a concentration up to 5 wt.% leads to stimulate nucleation and to maximize conversion. It is also found that increasing the iron content of the hybrid catalyst from 1 to 5 wt.% leads to a reduction in the crystal cubic boron nitride content of the paramagnetic centers (available vacancies nitrogen) by more than 50 %.