Low‐Temperature Synthesis of Nanocrystalline NbB 2 Powders by Borothermal Reduction in Molten Salt

Nanocrystalline NbB 2 powders were successfully prepared by borothermal reduction in molten salt at 800°C–1000°C. Due to the more homogeneous mixing and more rapid diffusion of species in the liquid state than in the solid state, the synthesis temperature of pure NbB 2 phase was greatly decreased by the presence of molten NaCl / KCl salt. The NbB 2 powders synthesized at 1000°C had the largest specific surface area of 27.09 m 2 /g and the lowest equivalent average particle size of 32 nm, respectively.