Cobalt boride


Cobalt borides are inorganic compounds with the general formula CoxBy. The two main cobalt borides CoB and Co2B. These are refractory materials.

Applications

Materials Science

Cobalt boride is known to be exceptionally resistant to oxidation, a chemical property which makes compound useful in the field of materials science. For instance, studies suggest cobalt boride can increase the lifespan of metal parts when used as a coating, imparting surfaces with higher corrosion and wear resistance. These properties have been exploited in the field of biomedical sciences for the design of specialized drug delivery systems.

Renewable Energy

Cobalt boride has also been studied as a catalyst for hydrogen storage and fuel cell technologies.

Organic Synthesis

Cobalt boride is also an effective hydrogenation catalyst used in organic synthesis. In one study, cobalt boride was found to be the most selective transition metal based catalyst available for the production of primary amines via nitrile reduction, even exceeding other cobalt containing catalysts such as Raney cobalt.

Preparations

Materials Coating

Cobalt boride is produced under high temperature such as 1500 °C. Coatings of cobalt boride on iron are produced by boriding, which involves first introducing a coating of FeB, Fe2B. On to this iron boride coating is deposited cobalt using a pack cementation process. Cobalt boride nanoparticles in the size range of 18 to 22 nm have also been produced.

Catalyst

When used as a catalyst, cobalt boride is prepared by reducing a cobalt salt, such as Cobalt nitrate, with sodium borohydride. Prior to reduction, the surface area of the catalyst is maximized by supporting the salt on another material; often this material is activated carbon.