Boric acid as supramolecular graphite†

Abstract

This study demonstrates how the distribution of intermolecular interactions of varying strengths along different directions in the anisotropic layer structure of triclinic boric acid leads to extensive mechanical shearing that eventually results in the layer-by-layer exfoliation of the molecular crystals, behaving as a supramolecular analogue of graphite, and provides valuable insights into the structure–mechanical property correlation.