B2H5

B2H5 is a boron-hydrogen compound classified as a wide-gap insulating hydride with potential applications in solid-state hydrogen storage.

Crystal structure of B2H5 (monoclinic, P21/c (No. 14))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About B2H5

B2H5 is a boron-based hydride that functions as a wide-gap insulator. Its electronic structure and proximity to the thermodynamic hull suggest it is a viable candidate for synthesis and investigation within the broader family of hydrogen storage materials. As a member of the borane-related hydride class, it is studied for its ability to store hydrogen in a compact, solid-state form. Its stability profile makes it a subject of interest for researchers aiming to develop efficient, high-density energy carriers.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for B2H5, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

5.92–6.34 eV
Range across DFT structures · ground state: insulator

Energy Above Hull

0.007 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Near Hull
2 DFT sources

Structures

24
4 databases, 6 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of B2H5. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

0.99 / 1.00
Trust tier: medium

Hull Spread

0.003 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

2
materials_project, oqmd

Space Group Consensus

—
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for B2H5, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
P21/c (No. 14)monoclinic6.340.0071-4.6250.72
——5.920.0103-0.047—
P1 (No. 1)triclinic———1.30
P1 (No. 1)triclinic———1.69
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———1.46
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———1.51
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———1.46
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———1.56
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———1.55
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———1.42
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———1.62
C2 (No. 5)monoclinic———1.01
Uses

Applications

Where B2H5 is used.

Hydrogen storage researchSolid-state energy materials
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about B2H5, answered from cross-validated data.

What is B2H5?

B2H5 is a boron-hydrogen compound classified as a wide-gap insulating hydride with potential applications in solid-state hydrogen storage.

More questions
What is B2H5 used for?
B2H5 is used in hydrogen storage research and solid-state energy materials.
What is the band gap of B2H5?
B2H5 has a DFT-computed band gap of 5.92–6.34 eV across 24 reported structures. Standard DFT underestimates band gaps, so the measured gap is typically larger.
Is B2H5 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT predicts a wide band gap of up to 6.34 eV (an insulator or wide-band-gap material).
Is B2H5 thermodynamically stable?
B2H5 has a lowest energy above hull of 0.007 eV/atom (near hull).
What is the crystal structure of B2H5?
The reference structure of B2H5 is monoclinic symmetry, space group P21/c (No. 14).
What is the density of B2H5?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of B2H5 is 0.72 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of B2H5 are known?
24 structures of B2H5 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 6 distinct space groups.
What elements does B2H5 contain?
B2H5 contains B and H (2 elements).
Where does the data for B2H5 come from?
B2H5 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, oqmd, mpaloe, cod.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the hydrogen storage hydrides class.

Within the class of hydrogen storage hydrides, B2H5 occupies a distinct position compared to more conventional ionic hydrides like LiH or CaH2. While those materials are typically characterized by their simple lattice structures, B2H5 exhibits the complex bonding behavior common to boron-hydrogen systems, placing it closer in character to BH3 than to the stable, binary metal hydrides.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Hydrogen Storage Hydrides in the database.

Data sources & attribution
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project (materialsproject.org). Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • oqmd — Data from the OQMD (oqmd.org). Cite: Saal et al., JOM 65, 1501 (2013); Kirklin et al., npj Comp. Mater. 1, 15010 (2015). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • mpaloe — Data from MP-ALOE. Cite: Kuner et al., npj Comput. Mater. (2025), doi:10.1038/s41524-025-01834-9.
  • cod — Data from the Crystallography Open Database (crystallography.net/cod/). Cite: Grazulis et al., J. Appl. Cryst. 42, 726 (2009). (CC0-1.0)

Analyze B2H5 in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 85 source databases.

Explore the Platform →
Results are informational and should be validated by qualified professionals. See Terms of Service