First boron ‘buckyball’ could be used to store hydrogen

Clusters of 40 boron atoms form a hollow cage similar to the carbon buckyball

Just in time for the World Cup final, researchers have succeeded in building the first “buckyballs”  made entirely of boron atoms. Unlike true, carbon-based buckyballs, the boron molecules are not shaped exactly like footballs.  But this novel form of boron might lead to new nanomaterials and could find uses in hydrogen storage.  Read more