Microsize and nanosize BPO4 from pyrolysis of a carborane-substituted polyphosphazene

8 pages, 4 figures, 6 scheme.-- et al.Pyrolysis in air of the carborane-substituted polyphosphazene, {[NP({OCH2}2C2B10H10)]0.5 [NP({OCH2}2C2B9H10· NBu4)]0.5} n affords BPO4 crystals of varied sizes in the micro and nano regime.The materials were characterised by IR spectroscopy, SEM-EDAX, TEM, X-ray diffraction, and DTA analysis. A possible mechanism for the formation of these materials is discussed and compared with that found for the formation of metallic nanostructured materials from the pyrolysis of anchored organometallic derivatives of polyphosphazenes.This work is supported by Fondecyt (project 1030515), MEC (CTQ2004–05495-C02–01/BQU) and Gobierno de Aragon.Peer reviewe