Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB₆, also called lanthanum boride and LaB) is an inorganic chemical, a boride of lanthanum.
It is a refractory ceramic material that has a melting point of 2210 °C, and is insoluble in water and hydrochloric acid.
It has a low work function and one of the highest electron emissivities known, and is stable in vacuum.
Stoichiometric samples are colored intense purple-violet, while boron-rich ones (above LaB6.07) are blue.
Ion bombardment changes its color from purple to emerald green.
LaB₆ is a superconductor with a relatively low transition temperature of 0.45 K.
Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB₆, also called lanthanum boride and LaB) is an inorganic chemical, a boride of lanthanum. It is a refractory ceramic material that has a melting point of 2210 °C, and is insoluble in water and hydrochloric acid. It has a low work function and one of the highest electron emissivities known, and is stable in vacuum. Stoichiometric samples are colored intense purple-violet, while boron-rich ones (above LaB6.07) are blue. Ion bombardment changes its color from purple to emerald green. LaB₆ is a superconductor with a relatively low transition temperature of 0.45 K.
Lanthanum hexaboride