Isotopic phonon effects in β-rhombohedral boron--non-statistical isotope distribution.

On the basis of the spectra of IR- and Raman-active phonons, the isotopic phonon effects in β-rhombohedral boron are analysed for polycrystalline (10)B- and (11)B-enriched samples of different origin and high-purity (nat)B single crystals. Intra- and inter-icosahedral B-B vibrations are harmonic, hence meeting the virtual crystal approximation (VCA) requirements. Deviations from the phonon shift expected according to the VCA are attributed to the anharmonic share of the lattice vibrations.