Direct reaction synthesis of Mg2B14 from elemental precursors

Mg2B14 prepared by reaction of high-purity Mg and B was analyzed by X-ray diffraction and Rietveld analysis. The structure refinement for space group Imam resulted in residuals Rp = 6.95% and RBragg = 3.72% with lattice parameters a = 5.9738(3) Å, b = 8.1255(4) Å, and c = 10.4809(5) Å. AlMgB14 produced by the same method did not yield high-purity specimens.