Decades-long mystery solved: Boron monoxide's structure revealed

After 83 years, scientists from Ames National Laboratory have finally determined the structure of boron monoxide (BO), a compound that has eluded researchers since its discovery in the 1940s. Using new NMR methods and advanced analytical tools, the team was able to solve the structure of this deceptively simple material. The findings could pave the way for the synthesis of other useful boron-based 2D materials.