Publications (3)6.78 Total impact
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Article: Diborane release and structure distortion in borohydrides.
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ABSTRACT: Hydrogen desorption from borohydrides is often accompanied by the release of diborane. The amount of diborane released as a byproduct during the decomposition of borohydrides scales inversely with the borohydride stability, which in turn depends on the electronegativity of the corresponding cation. We present a model based on the difference between the symmetric and asymmetric assembly of B(2)H(6) units at the surface. The origin of this reaction is the degree of distortion of the BH(4)(-) anions in the bulk, hitherto depending on the degree of ionization of the cation. A practical measure of the distortion is the range in which the stretching vibration modes appear, which is the difference in the energy of the stretching vibrations of hydrogen atoms with maximum different bonding lengths (Badger's rule). We propose from this relation that the diborane released from the surface of the relatively unstable LiZn(2)(BH(4))(5) is formed from a recombination of BH(2)(δ+) and BH(4)(δ-) units. Ultra high vacuum mass spectroscopy measurements support the presented model and clarify the decomposition of stable borohydrides, such as LiBH(4). The sublimation of borohydrides in UHV competes with their decomposition.Dalton Transactions 10/2012; · 3.84 Impact Factor -
Article: Vibrational Dynamics of LiBH4 by Infrared Pump−Probe and 2D Spectroscopy
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ABSTRACT: Employing femtosecond IR pump−probe and 2D spectroscopy, we measure the vibrational dynamics of LiBH4 and several of its deuterium isotopomers. We find that the vibrational lifetime of various BH and BD stretching modes uniformly is ≈1.5 ps for all BH4−xDx− units (0 ≤ x ≤ 4). Subsequently, vibrational energy cascades down through BH and BD bending, facilitated by a strong Fermi resonance, into external (librational and translational) modes with a 3 ps time constant. Final thermalization of the energy is completed in about 100 ps. The vibrational spectra are purely homogeneously broadened indicating low inhomogeneity due to static disorder. We furthermore measured the anharmonic constants of various modes, which sets the benchmark for future ab initio calculations, and completed the first FTIR assignment of the stretching vibrations for the five BH4−xDx− units.11/2009; -
Article: Vibrational dynamics of LiBH(4) by infrared pump-probe and 2D spectroscopy.
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ABSTRACT: Employing femtosecond IR pump-probe and 2D spectroscopy, we measure the vibrational dynamics of LiBH(4) and several of its deuterium isotopomers. We find that the vibrational lifetime of various BH and BD stretching modes uniformly is approximately 1.5 ps for all BH(4-x)D(x)(-) units (0 <or=x <or=4). Subsequently, vibrational energy cascades down through BH and BD bending, facilitated by a strong Fermi resonance, into external (librational and translational) modes with a 3 ps time constant. Final thermalization of the energy is completed in about 100 ps. The vibrational spectra are purely homogeneously broadened indicating low inhomogeneity due to static disorder. We furthermore measured the anharmonic constants of various modes, which sets the benchmark for future ab initio calculations, and completed the first FTIR assignment of the stretching vibrations for the five BH(4-x)D(x)(-) units.The Journal of Physical Chemistry A 11/2009; 113(46):12838-46. · 2.95 Impact Factor
