The formation, structure and deuterium desorption properties of Mg 2 fe x co (1−x) D y (0 ≤ x ≤ 1 and 5 ≤ y ≤ 6) complex hydrides were investigated. The synthesis was carried out by reactive ball milling, using a mixture of powders of the parent elements in D 2 atmosphere. The formation of quaternary deuterides was identified from Rietveld refinements of powder X-Ray diffraction and powder neutron diffraction patterns, and from infrared attenuated total reflectance analysis. It was observed that the crystal structure of deuterides depends on the transition metal fraction. For Co-rich compositions, i.e. up to x = 0.1, hydrides have the tetragonal distorted CaF 2-type structure (space group P4/nmm) of Mg 2 coD 5 at room temperature. For Fe-rich compositions, i.e. x ≥ 0.5, a cubic hydride is observed, with the same K 2 ptcl 6-type structure (space group Fm3m) as Mg 2 feD 6 and as Mg 2 coD 5 at high temperatures. for x = 0.3, both the cubic and the tetragonal deuterides are detected. Differential scanning calorimetry coupled with thermogravimetric and temperature programmed desorption analyses show rather similar deuterium desorption properties for all samples, without significant changes as a function of composition. Finally, hydrogen sorption experiments performed for Mg 2 fe 0.5 co 0.5 H 5.5 at 30 bar of H 2 and 673 K showed reversible reactions, with good kinetic for both absorption and desorption of hydrogen. Hydrogen is a promising energy carrier, but technologies for its storage must be improved for its use in a large scale. The purpose of research on hydrogen storage is to achieve high gravimetric and volumetric capacities at mild pressure and temperature conditions. In this regard, hydrogen storage in hydrides is particularly favourable 1. Mg is an attractive hydrogen storage material, due to its low cost and high gravimetric (7.7 H 2 wt.%) and volumetric (110 gH 2 l −1) capacity in MgH 2. However, MgH 2 is a rather stable hydride and its desorption temperature is too high (>573 K) for most practical applications. To reduce the desorption temperature and increase the kinetics of both absorption and desorption, different strategies have been investigated, such as the introduction of defects, the reduction of particles size (e.g. with mechanochemical techniques) and the use of additives (e.g. 3d transition metals and their oxides) 2. Mg-based hydrides containing 3d transition metals (TM), e.g. Ni, Fe and Co, have shown lower hydrogen sorption temperature and improved kinetics, compared to MgH 2. Mg 2 FeH 6 and Mg 2 CoH 5 have high gravimetric (5.6 and 4.5 H 2 wt.%, respectively) 3 and volumetric (150 and 110 gH 2 l −1 , respectively) capacity 4. The crystal structure of both these ternary hydrides is based on the formation of complex anions obeying the 18-electron rule and with a strong covalent bond between TM and hydrogen. In Mg 2 FeH 6 , the octahedral complex anion [FeH 6 ] 4− is surrounded by eight Mg 2+ in a cubic rearrangement. The crystal structure is a cubic K 2 PtCl 6-type (space group Fm3m), with un...