Plutonium diboride is an compound of plutonium and boron with the chemical formula PuB2.[1][2] It is one of the plutonium borides.

Synthesis

Fusion of stoichiometric amounts of pure substances:

Pu + 2B → PuB2

Physical properties

Plutonium diboride forms paramagnetic crystals of hexagonal crystal structure, space group P 6/mmm.[3]

Chemical properties

The compound decomposes upon heating:

2PuB2 → Pu + PuB4

References

  1. Eick, Harry A. (1 August 1965). "Plutonium Borides". Inorganic Chemistry. 4 (8): 1237–1239. doi:10.1021/ic50030a037. ISSN 0020-1669. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  2. Handbook on the Physics and Chemistry of the Actinides. North-Holland. 1984. p. 71. ISBN 978-0-444-86903-6. Retrieved 5 October 2025.
  3. McDonald, B. J.; Stuart, W. I. (10 May 1960). "The crystal structure of some plutonium borides". Acta Crystallographica. 13 (5): 447–448. Bibcode:1960AcCry..13..447M. doi:10.1107/S0365110X60001059. ISSN 0365-110X. Retrieved 5 October 2025.