Inorganic double-helix structures of unusually simple lithium-phosphorus species

Theoretical evidence: The existence of inorganic double-helix structures at the atomic level is theoretically predicted. An unbiased quantum-chemical search for the global minimum structures of Li xP x (x=5-9) species is performed. For the Li 7P 7-Li 9P 9 stoichiometries the global minimum structure has a peculiar double-helix form. Copyright © 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.