Behavior of hydrogen ions, atoms, and molecules in alpha-boron studied using density functional calculations

International audienceWe examine the behavior of hydrogen ions, atoms, and molecules in α-boron using density functional calculations. Hydrogen behaves as a negative-U center, with positive H ions preferring to sit off-center on interlayer bonds and negative H ions sitting preferably at in-plane sites between three B12 icosahedra. Hydrogen atoms inside B12 icosahedral cages are unstable, drifting off-center and leaving the cage with only a 0.09 eV barrier. While H0 is extremely mobile (diffusion barrier 0.25 eV), H+ and H- have higher diffusion barriers of 0.9 eV. Once mobile, these defects will combine, forming H2 in the interstitial void space, which will remain trapped in the lattice until high temperatures. Based on these results we discuss potential differences for hydrogen behavior in β-boron and compare with experimental muon-implantation data