Relative stability of planar clusters B11, B12, and B13 in neutral- and charged-states

Theoretically, within the diatomic model, there is studied the relative stability of most abundant boron clusters B11, B12, and B13 with planar structures in neutral, positively and negatively charge-states. According to the specific (pet atom) binding energy criterion, B12+ (6.49 eV) is found to be the most stable boron cluster, while B11– + B13+ (5.83 eV) neutral pair is expected to present the preferable ablation channel for boron-rich solids. Obtained results would be applicable in production of boron-clusters-based nanostructured coating materials with super-properties such as lightness, hardness, conductivity, chemically inertness, neutron-absorption, etc. making them especially effective for protection against cracking, wear, corrosion, neutron- and electromagnetic-radiations, etc.