Researchers have been intrigued by boron for many years because of its ability to create new forms of matter (allotropes), some of which are very hard, such as cubic boron nitride, while others are semiconductors like the boron-rich framework.

Researchers have also found many different allotropes of boron that exhibit unique chemical properties. However, there is one particular combination of properties that has eluded them – a phase of boron that is both highly conductive and can be deformed plastically.

Now, researchers have reported the synthesis of Imma-B60, a new boron allotrope that achieves this rare pairing.

The material was created through a precursor-based strategy: first forming a sodium-rich compound, Na4B60, under high pressure, then removing the sodium atoms through degassing. What remained was a boron-only framework with remarkable properties.

First-ever triple bond between Boron and Carbon formed

The architecture of Imma-B60 is impressive; it is composed of B12 icosahedra (clusters of 12 boron atoms) which are linked by triangular B3 units. The linkage between the icosahedra occurs through both 2-center and 3-center σ-bonds, resulting in an open framework lattice that has a balance of rigidity and flexibility.

The new allotrope exhibits a narrow bandgap (<0.2 eV) and an electrical conductivity of about 9 × 10² S/m, seven orders of magnitude higher than β-boron, one of the most studied boron phases.

Equally remarkable is its mechanical behavior. Imma-B60 can undergo plastic deformation of ~23%, enabled by dislocation-mediated slip mechanisms. This is extraordinary for boron, which is usually associated with brittle, superhard phases.

The discovery of this phase of boron may expand boron’s capabilities beyond being used in superhard materials and as a semiconductor. This phase has both electrical conductivity and mechanical flexibility (plasticity). Therefore, it may lead to new technologies such as flexible electronics. Flexible electronics can be bent and stretched and still function. Boron’s unique atomic structure enables this type of device.

In addition to being able to combine high electrical conductivity with strong mechanical properties in the development of robust energy materials, the use of precursor strategies in the design of metastable materials allows researchers to explore phase transformations that are unavailable through direct means. This provides alternative approaches to developing innovative materials in materials science.

Imma-B60 shows that boron is capable of exhibiting two different characteristics (conductivity and deformability) simultaneously due to its ability to form various structural arrangements. This research has demonstrated that boron can exist as a single allotrope that possesses both of these characteristics, thereby expanding the known phases of boron, as well as providing a framework for creating other metastable materials with custom-tailored properties.

This is more than just another exotic crystal; it’s a reminder that even familiar elements can surprise us when pushed into new structural regimes.

Journal Reference:

Chen, F., Zou, L., Li, P. et al. An open-framework boron allotrope exhibiting high conductivity and plasticity. Nat. Chem. (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41557-026-02267-7