Lithium is a Block S, Group 1, Period 2 element. The number of electrons in each of Lithium's shells is 2, 1 and its electronic configuration is [He] 2s¹. In its elemental form lithium's CAS number is 7439-93-2. The lithium atom has a radius of 152.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 182.pm. Lithium is toxic and corrosive. Lithium is a member of the alkali group of metals. It has the highest specific heat of any material and the highest electrochemical potential. This makes it important in applications involving heat transfer and as the anode in batteries. Lithium is available as metal and compounds with purities from 99% to 99.999% (ACS grade to ultra-high purity); metals in the form of foil, sputtering target, and rod, and compounds as submicron and nanopowder. Lithium is a dopant in advanced optical glass. It is used as an alloy in light weight metals. Lithium stearate is a common high temperature lubricant. Lithium was first discovered by Johann Arvedson in 1817. The origin of the name Lithium comes from the Greek word lithose which means "stone". See Lithium research below. See Lithium research below.

Boron is a Block P, Group 13, Period 2 element. The number of electrons in each of Boron's shells is 2, 3 and its electronic configuration is [He] 2s² 2p¹. In its elemental form boron's CAS number is 7440-42-8. The boron atom has a radius of 79.5.pm and it's Van der Waals radius is 200.pm. Boron has an energy band gap of 1.50 to 1.56 eV, which is higher than that of either silicon or germanium. Optical characteristics include transmitting portions of the infrared. Boron is a poor conductor of electricity at room temperature but a good conductor at high temperature. Boron in its elemental form is not toxic. Amorphous boron is used in pyrotechnic flares to provide a distinctive green color, and in rockets as an igniter Boric acid is also an important boron compound with major markets in textile products. Boron compounds are also extensively used in the manufacture of borosilicate glasses. The isotope Boron-10 is used as a control for nuclear reactors, as a shield for nuclear radiation, and in instruments used for detecting neutrons. Boron nitride has remarkable properties and can be used to make a material as hard as diamond. The nitride also behaves like an electrical insulator but conducts heat like a metal. Boron also has lubricating properties similar to graphite. Boron was first discovered by Sir Humphry Davy and J.L Gay-Lussac in 1808. The name Boron originates from a combination of carbon and the Arabic word 'buraqu meaning borax. See Boron research below. /p>

American Elements semi conducting materials are structures produced from ultra high purity starting materials synthesized by our high purity production facility which includes several large electric muffle furnaces, a tube furnace for hydrogen reduction, 50 gallon glass-lined Pfaudler reactors supported by our analytical laboratory containing X-ray diffraction, SEM, AA, BET surface area, and ICP Spectrometry for trace metals analysis. See a discussion of American Elements Ultra High Purity and Analytical capabilities. See Growth for processes used to fabricate semiconductor materials, which include:

• "pulling" by the Czochaiski method for production of semiconductor materials
• Flux growth and gradient freeze
• Directional solidification of fluorites using both the Bridgman-Stockbarger and float zoning techniques