Scandium dodecaboride

Synthesis

ScB₁₂ is formed by mixing a 7:1 ratio of boron powder and scandium oxide powder, heating to 2500 °C with a plasma torch or similar, quenching in cold water and washing with concentrated hydrochloric acid.

Crystallography

ScB₁₂ was originally reported as having a cubic structure, later studies showed it to have tetragonal structure (unit cell with a=522pm, c=735pm). More recently it has been shown that there is indeed a cubic form but that it requires stabilization.