Lanthanum_hexaboride
Lanthanum hexaboride
Chemical compound
Lanthanum hexaboride (LaB6, also called lanthanum boride and LaB) is an inorganic chemical, a boride of lanthanum. It is a refractory ceramic material that has a melting point of 2210 °C, and is insoluble in water and hydrochloric acid. It is extremely hard, with a Mohs hardness of 9.5.[1] It has a low work function and one of the highest electron emissivities known, and is stable in vacuum. Stoichiometric samples are colored intense purple-violet, while boron-rich ones (above LaB6.07) are blue. Ion bombardment changes its color from purple to emerald green.[2] LaB6 is a superconductor with a relatively low transition temperature of 0.45 K.[3]