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Published on: November 12, 2016
LiSc(BH4)4: a novel salt of Li+ and discrete Sc(BH4)4(-) complex anions
Hans Hagemann1, Moïse Longhini, Jakub W Kaminski
1Departement de Chimie Physique, Universite de Geneve, 30, quai E. Ansermet, CH1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland. hans-rudolf.hagemann@chiphy.unige.ch
Abstract:
LiSc(BH4)4 has been prepared by ball milling of LiBH4 and ScCl3. Vibrational spectroscopy indicates the presence of discrete Sc(BH4)4(-) ions. DFT calculations of this isolated complex ion confirm that it is a stable complex, and the calculated vibrational spectra agree well with the experimental ones. The four BH4(-) groups are oriented with a tilted plane of three hydrogen atoms directed to the central Sc ion, resulting in a global 8 + 4 coordination. The crystal structure obtained by high-resolution synchrotron powder diffraction reveals a tetragonal unit cell with a = 6.076 A and c = 12.034 A (space group P-42c). The local structure of the Sc(BH4)4(-) complex is refined as a distorted form of the theoretical structure. The Li ions are found to be disordered along the z axis.
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