Reaction energetics and crystal structure of Li4 BN3 H10 from first principles

Donald J. Siegel*, C. Wolverton, V. Ozoliņš

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

77 Scopus citations

Abstract

Using density functional theory we examine the crystal structure and the finite-temperature thermodynamics of formation and dehydrogenation for the quaternary hydride Li4 BN3 H10. Two recent studies based on x-ray and neutron diffraction have reported three bcc crystal structures for this phase. While these structures possess identical space groups and similar lattice constants, internal coordinate differences result in bond length discrepancies as large as 0.2 Å. Geometry optimization calculations on the experimental structures reveal that the apparent discrepancies are an artifact of x-ray interactions with strong bond polarization; the relaxed structures are essentially identical. Regarding reaction energetics, the present calculations predict that the formation reaction 3 LiNH2 + LiBH4 → Li4 BN3 H10 is exothermic with enthalpy Δ HT=300 K =-11.8 kJ/ (mol f.u.), consistent with reports of spontaneous Li4 BN3 H10 formation in the literature. Calorimetry experiments have been reported for the dehydrogenation reaction, but have proven difficult to interpret. To help clarify the thermodynamics we evaluate the free energies of seventeen candidate dehydrogenation pathways over the temperature range T=0-1000 K. At temperatures where H2 release has been experimentally observed (T≈520-630 K), the favored dehydrogenation reaction is Li4 BN3 H10 → Li3 BN2 + LiNH2 +4 H2, which is weakly endothermic [Δ HT=550 K =12.8 kJ/(mol H2)]. The small calculated ΔH is consistent with the unsuccessful attempts at rehydriding reported in the literature, and suggests that the moderately high temperatures needed for H desorption result from slow kinetics.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number014101
JournalPhysical Review B - Condensed Matter and Materials Physics
Volume75
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • Condensed Matter Physics

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