Preparation Mechanism and Properties of Orthoboric Acid Nanowires with Honeycomb-Like Structure

: Orthoboric acid (H₃BO₃) nanowires with honeycomb-like structure are successfully synthesized on boron nitride (BN) substrate using Fe powder as a catalyst. The formation of the nanowires is a two-step process (solid-liquid-solid growth mechanism), including the formation of B2O3 and its reaction with water to form H₃BO₃. The fundamental properties of H₃BO₃ nanowires, including their morphology, crystal structure, optical properties, thermal stability, and electrochemical properties, were systematically studied in order to expand their application fields. When innovatively investigated as anode materials for lithium ion batteries, the nanowires show a high discharge specific capacity of 243 mA h g-1 in the first cycle at a current density of 100 mA g-1. Further modification is essential for improving its cycling stability, such as surface coating and doping ions. Orthoboric acid nanowires with high first discharge capacity are believed to have great prospects for the development of novel anode materials for lithium ion batteries.