Fig. 1

Structure, morphology, and composition characterizations. a X-ray diffraction (XRD) pattern for B4C. b, c Transmisson electron microscopy (TEM) micrograph (b) and further magnified TEM images (c) for B4C nanosheets. d, e High-resolution TEM image (d) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) pattern for one B4C nanosheet (e). Scale bars, b 1 μm; c 300 nm; d 5 nm; e 5 nm−1. f, g X-ray photoelectric spectra of B4C nanosheets in the B 1s (f) and C 1s (g) regions