On chemical bonding of Helium with hcp-Beryllium

TL;DR

This study uses ab initio calculations to reveal unexpected chemical bonding between helium and beryllium atoms in an hcp-Be matrix, challenging the conventional view of helium's inertness in metals.

Contribution

It demonstrates for the first time that helium can form significant chemical bonds with beryllium in a specific atomic configuration.

Findings

He can form chemical bonds with Be in hcp-Be

Bonding occurs when He is in a non-symmetric basal plane position

Challenging the notion of helium's inertness in metals

Abstract

Chemical inertness is the key property of helium determining its solubility, distribution and accumulation kinetics in metals. Against all expectations, our ab initio calculations show a substantial chemical bonding between He and Be atoms in the hcp-Be matrix when He occupies a non-symmetric position in a basal plane.