Al2O3

Alumina · Aluminum oxide, Corundum

Alumina is a chemically stable, insulating aluminum oxide widely utilized as a structural component and a versatile support material for catalysts.

Crystal structure of Al2O3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Alumina

Alumina is a thermodynamically stable oxide that serves as a cornerstone material in materials science. Its wide-band-gap electronic character makes it an exceptional electrical insulator, while its structural robustness ensures longevity in demanding chemical environments.

Because of its chemical inertness and high surface area potential, it is widely utilized as a catalyst support. It provides a stable framework for active metal phases, facilitating efficient chemical transformations across various industrial processes.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Alumina, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

0.05–5.85 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

277
3 databases, 39 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Al2O3.

Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Uses

Applications

Where Alumina is used.

Catalyst supportAbrasive materialsElectrical insulatorsRefractory ceramicsThin-film dielectric layers
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

58 patents reference Al2O3 or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
7928028ZrO2-Al2O3 composite ceramic material and production method therefor
6589305Fused aluminum oxycarbide/nitride-Al2O3 • rare earth oxide eutectic abrasive particles, abrasive article
6572991Deposition of &ggr;-Al2O3 by means of CVD
6454822Fused aluminum oxycarbide/nitride-Al2O3·Y2O3 eutectic abrasive particles, abrasive articles, and method
6673430PVD Al2O3 coated cutting tool
10377671Structural and mechanical properties of nano and micro Al2O3-cBN composites prepared by spark plasma sintering
7297646Ceramics comprising Al2O3, REO, ZrO2 and/or HfO2, and Nb2O5 and/or Ta2O5 and methods of making the same
7563293Al2O3-rare earth oxide-ZrO2/HfO2 materials, and methods of making and using the same
7914913Al2O3 ceramic tool with diffusion bonding enhanced layer
6599636&agr;-Al2O3 and Ti2O3 protective coatings on aluminide substrates
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Al2O3?

Alumina is a chemically stable, insulating aluminum oxide widely utilized as a structural component and a versatile support material for catalysts.

More questions
What is Al2O3 used for?
Alumina (Al2O3) is used in catalyst support, abrasive materials, electrical insulators, refractory ceramics, and thin-film dielectric layers.
What is the band gap of Al2O3?
Alumina (Al2O3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.05–5.85 eV across 277 reported structures.
Is Al2O3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a wide band gap up to 5.85 eV it is an insulator / wide-band-gap material.
Is Al2O3 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Alumina (Al2O3) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of Al2O3 are known?
277 structures of Al2O3 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 39 distinct space groups.
How is Al2O3 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Al2O3 include sol gel, solid state (10 procedures documented).
What elements does Al2O3 contain?
Alumina (Al2O3) contains Al and O (2 elements).
Where does the data for Al2O3 come from?
Al2O3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the spinel oxide catalysts class.

Within the family of spinel and complex oxides, Alumina stands out for its extreme thermodynamic stability and insulating nature compared to transition metal-based catalysts like CuO or NiO. While materials such as LaAlO3 share structural similarities in their oxide frameworks, Alumina is primarily valued for its role as an inert, high-performance substrate rather than for the redox-active properties found in perovskites like LaMnO3 or BiFeO3.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Spinel Oxide Catalysts in the database.

Data sources & attribution
  • latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform

Analyze Al2O3 in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 53 integrated data sources.

Explore the Platform →