Two Polymorphs of a New Barium Nitridoborate Hydride

Mixed anionic materials are proceeding as an alternative approach of network tuning, similar to well-known multiple cation compounds. The combination of different anions allows modifying the optical, magnetic and electronic properties of an inorganic network. Anion combinations like nitridoborates with hydrides have not gained much attention as they require substantially different synthesis routes. Compounds containing small, elusive hydride anions are usually synthesized under moderate conditions and tend to decompose at elevated temperatures. Contrary, nitridoborates exhibit remarkable stability and are usually synthesized at high-temperature or high-pressure conditions. Through sensibly chosen precursors and reaction conditions, wer were able to overcome this barrier and synthesize two polymorphs of a new barium nitridoborate hydride, namely Ba12(BN2)7H4.