Bimetallic Borohydrides in the System M(BH4)2–KBH4 (M = Mg, Mn): On the Structural Diversity

Four novel bimetallic borohydrides have been discovered, K2M(BH4)4 (M = Mg or Mn), K3Mg(BH4)5, and KMn(BH4)3, and are carefully investigated structurally as well as regarding their decomposition reaction mechanism by means of in situ synchrotron radiation powder X-ray diffraction (SR-PXD), vibrational spectroscopies (Raman and IR), thermal analysis (TGA and DTA), and ab initio density functional theory (DFT) calculations. Mechano-chemical synthesis (ball-milling) using the reactants KBH4, α-Mg(BH4)2, and α-Mn(BH4)2 ensures chlorine-free reaction products. A detailed structural analysis reveals significant similarities as well as surprising differences among the two isomorphs K2M(BH4)4, most importantly concerning the extent to which the complex anion [M(BH4)4]2– is isolated in the structure. Anisotropic thermal expansion and an increase in symmetry at high temperatures in K3Mg(BH4)5 is ascribed to the motion of BH4 groups inducing hydrogen repulsive effects, and the dynamics of K3Mg(BH4)5 are investigated. Decomposition in the manganese system proceeds via the formation of KMn(BH4)3, the first perovkite type borohydride reported to date