The assessed binary phase diagram of boron-carbon exhibits a single intrinsically disordered alloy phase designated “B4C” with rhombohedral symmetry occupying a broad composition range that falls just short of the nominal carbon content of 20%. As this composition range is nearly temperature independent, the phase diagram suggests a violation of the third law of thermodynamics, which typically ...

Catalysing the reduction of oxygen in acidic media is a standing challenge. Although activity of platinum, the most active metal, can be substantially improved by alloying, alloy stability remains a concern. Here we report that platinum nanoparticles supported on graphite-rich boron carbide show a 50-100% increase in activity in acidic media and improved cycle stability compared to commercial c...

This review describes the latest polymeric systems used as boron transporters for neutron capture therapy.

In the current article, we provide in vitro efficacy evaluation of a unique accelerator-based neutron source, constructed at the Budker Institute of Nuclear Physics (Novosibirsk, Russian Federation), for boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT), which is particularly effective in the case of invasive cancers. U251MG, CHO-K1 and V79 cells were incubated and irradiated in various concentrations of bo...

Boron Neutron Capture Therapy (BNCT) is a rather innovative cancer radiotherapy; at present it is object of increasing interest especially for treatment of those tumors where conventional therapy gives not satisfactory results (Glioblastoma and Malignant Melanoma). The therapy takes advantage of both chemical and physical aspects B: the possibility of selectively accumulating in tumor tissue th...

Currently, nanostructured compounds have been standing out for their optical, mechanical, and chemical features and for the possibilities of manipulation and regulation of complex biological processes. One of these compounds is boron nitride nanotubes (BNNTs), which are a nanostructured material analog to carbon nanotubes, but formed of nitrogen and boron atoms. BNNTs present high thermal stabi...

The potential of using Cf-252 to treat cancer patients was first described by Shlea and Stoddard in 1965 as a source of neutrons using brachytherapy procedures [Stoddard, 1986]. In the late 1960’s and early 1970’s, the United States and England initiated human clinical trials of Cf-252 neutron brachytherapy (NBT) for treating patients of various cancer types. These earlier trials treated only v...

Radio-frequency (RF) driven ion sources are being developed in Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) for sealed-accelerator-tube neutron generator application. By using a 5-cm-diameter RF-driven multicusp source H yields over 95% have been achieved. These experimental findings will enable one to develop compact neutron generators based on the D-D or D-T fusion reactions. In this new neut...