Research at the Laboratory of Crystallography

Experimental charge density study of high-pressure γ-B₂₈  form of Boron
 

It took more than two centuries after the first claimed discovery of boron to experimentally establish the charge density distribution along with quantitative topological properties for at least one of its polymorphs. The findings are remarkable, which reveal an unprecedented unique spectrum of B-B bonds in γ-B₂₈, including electron-deficient one-electron two-center bonds and a unique two-electron three-center polar covalent bond. [1] These findings will open new doors for understanding inter-atomic interactions in electron deficient systems.

[1] S. Mondal, S. van Smaalen, A. Schönleber, Y. Filinchuk, D. Chernyshov, S.I. Simak, A.S. Mikhaylushkin, I.A. Abrikosov, E. Zarechnaya, L. Dubrovinsky, N. Dubrovinskaia,  Phys. Rev. Lett. 106, 215502 (2011)
 
See also:

[2] Blick in die Forschung, Universität Bayreuth, Nr. 15 (2011)
[3] ESRF Spotlight on science