Abstract
We present a systematic study of the low-energy structures of zinc borohydride, a crystalline material proposed for the purpose of hydrogen storage. In addition to previously proposed structures, many new low-energy structures of zinc borohydride are found by utilizing the minima-hopping method. We identify a new dynamically stable structure which belongs to the space group as the lowest-energy phase of zinc borohydride at low temperatures. A low transition barrier between and , the two lowest-lying phases of zinc borohydride, is predicted, implying that a coexistence of low-energy phases of zinc borohydride is possible at ambient conditions. An analysis based on the simulated x-ray-diffraction pattern reveals that the structure exhibits the same major features as the experimentally synthesized zinc borohydride samples.
- Received 18 September 2012
DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.86.224110
©2012 American Physical Society