First-principles determination of the structure of magnesium borohydride.

The energy landscape of Mg(BH(4))(2) under pressure is explored by ab initio evolutionary calculations. Two new tetragonal structures, with space groups P4 and I4(1)/acd, are predicted to be lower in enthalpy by 15.4 and 21.2 kJ/mol, respectively, than the earlier proposed P4(2)nm phase. We have simulated x-ray diffraction spectra, lattice dynamics, and equations of state of these phases. The density, volume contraction, bulk modulus, and simulated x-ray diffraction patterns of I4(1)/acd and P4 structures are in excellent agreement with the experimental results.