This invention discloses a boron-containing titanium-based composite powder for 3D printing, consisting of 0.5%-2% by weight of titanium diboride and 98%-99.5% by weight of titanium sponge. The invention further discloses a method of preparing such composite powder, where the element boron is introduced to the titanium powder through rapid solidification, which significantly improves the solid solubility of boron in Ti, enabling the introduction of part of the boron into the titanium matrix to form supersaturated solid solutions. The reinforcement phase TiB in the boron-containing titanium-based composite powder prepared herein can be precisely controlled in grain size ranging from the nanometer scale to the micrometer scale through temperature or energy density, thereby preparing the titanium-based composite materials with different sizes of reinforcement phases to meet different mechanical requirements.

This invention discloses a boron-containing titanium-based composite powder for 3D printing, consisting of 0.5%-2% by weight of titanium diboride and 98%-99.5% by weight of titanium sponge. The invention further discloses a method of preparing such composite powder, where the element boron is introduced to the titanium powder through rapid solidification, which significantly improves the solid solubility of boron in Ti, enabling the introduction of part of the boron into the titanium matrix to form supersaturated solid solutions. The reinforcement phase TiB in the boron-containing titanium-based composite powder prepared herein can be precisely controlled in grain size ranging from the nanometer scale to the micrometer scale through temperature or energy density, thereby preparing the titanium-based composite materials with different sizes of reinforcement phases to meet different mechanical requirements.

Some embodiments described herein provide for methods for synthesizing magnesium borohydride from hydrogenation of magnesium boride at moderate temperature and pressure in the presence of a modifier. The modifier may be in form of hydrides, liquid hydrogen carriers, ammonia borane, metallic species, croconate anion based materials, ethers, amines or imines, metal carbides, borides, graphene, arenes, magnesium, aluminum, calcium or ionic liquids. Some embodiments provide for charging magnesium boride in presence of a modifier at high pressure hydrogen while simultaneously heating the material. The modification in some instances may lead to an improved magnesium boride product with enhanced properties for application in other hydrogen storage systems.

Some embodiments described herein provide for methods for synthesizing magnesium borohydride from hydrogenation of magnesium boride at moderate temperature and pressure in the presence of a modifier. The modifier may be in form of hydrides, liquid hydrogen carriers, ammonia borane, metallic species, croconate anion based materials, ethers, amines or imines, metal carbides, borides, graphene, arenes, magnesium, aluminum, calcium or ionic liquids. Some embodiments provide for charging magnesium boride in presence of a modifier at high pressure hydrogen while simultaneously heating the material. The modification in some instances may lead to an improved magnesium boride product with enhanced properties for application in other hydrogen storage systems.

A metal boride aerogel includes a three-dimensional aerogel structure comprising metal boride particles having an average diameter of less than one micron. A method is disclosed for forming a metal boride aerogel including dispersing boron nanoparticles in a solution of a metal salt, forming a boron-loaded metal oxide precursor gel using the dispersed boron nanoparticles in the solution of the metal salt, drying the boron-loaded metal oxide precursor gel to form a boron-loaded metal oxide precursor aerogel, and heating the boron-loaded metal oxide precursor aerogel to form a metal boride aerogel. The metal boride aerogel is essentially free of metal oxide.

A metal boride aerogel includes a three-dimensional aerogel structure comprising metal boride particles having an average diameter of less than one micron. A method is disclosed for forming a metal boride aerogel including dispersing boron nanoparticles in a solution of a metal salt, forming a boron-loaded metal oxide precursor gel using the dispersed boron nanoparticles in the solution of the metal salt, drying the boron-loaded metal oxide precursor gel to form a boron-loaded metal oxide precursor aerogel, and heating the boron-loaded metal oxide precursor aerogel to form a metal boride aerogel. The metal boride aerogel is essentially free of metal oxide.

The present invention provides carbon-based clathrate compounds, including a carbon-based clathrate compound that includes a clathrate lattice with atoms of at least one element selected from the group consisting of carbon and boron as a host cage structure; guest atoms encapsulated within the clathrate lattice; and, substitution atoms that may be substituted for at least one portion of the carbon and boron atoms that constitute the clathrate lattice. In one embodiment, the invention provides a carbon-based clathrate compound of the formula LaB.sub.3C.sub.3.

A method for producing a tetrahydroborate is disclosed. The method includes a plasma treatment step of exposing a borate to a hydrogen plasma. The method also includes that the plasma treatment is performed using hydrogen plasma generated by microwave or RF excitation, and the plasma treatment is performed while heating the borate at a temperature between 40° C. and 300° C.

A general procedure applied to a variety of sol-gel precursors and solvent systems for preparing and controlling homogeneous dispersions of very small particles within each other. Fine homogenous dispersions processed at elevated temperatures and controlled atmospheres make a ceramic powder to be consolidated into a component by standard commercial means: sinter, hot press, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot/cold extrusion, spark plasma sinter (SPS), etc.

A general procedure applied to a variety of sol-gel precursors and solvent systems for preparing and controlling homogeneous dispersions of very small particles within each other. Fine homogenous dispersions processed at elevated temperatures and controlled atmospheres make a ceramic powder to be consolidated into a component by standard commercial means: sinter, hot press, hot isostatic pressing (HIP), hot/cold extrusion, spark plasma sinter (SPS), etc.