BN
Boron nitride · White graphite
Boron nitride is a thermodynamically stable, wide-gap insulating material that serves as a versatile building block in semiconductor technology.
About Boron nitride
Boron nitride is a prominent member of the nitride semiconductor family, characterized by its insulating electronic nature and exceptional thermodynamic stability. Its structural versatility is evidenced by the hundreds of reported configurations, making it a highly studied material in condensed matter physics and materials science.
Due to its unique bonding and stability, this compound serves as a critical component in high-performance electronics and thermal management systems. Its ability to maintain structural integrity under various conditions distinguishes it as a foundational material for advanced engineering applications.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Boron nitride, aggregated across 6 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Cross-Source DFT Agreement
How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of BN. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.
Agreement ScoreA normalized confidence score summarizing how closely independent DFT databases agree. Higher scores mean tighter cross-source agreement.
Hull SpreadDifference between the highest and lowest energy-above-hull values reported by comparable sources. Smaller spread means less thermodynamic disagreement.
Sources ComparedNumber and names of computational sources with comparable entries for this formula.
Space Group ConsensusWhether independent sources predict the same crystal symmetry for the lowest-energy structure.
Reported Structures
Lowest-energy structures reported for BN, ranked by energy above hull.
| Space GroupSymmetry classification of the crystal arrangement. The number is the international space-group index. | Crystal SystemBroad lattice family, such as cubic, tetragonal, monoclinic, or triclinic, derived from unit-cell symmetry. | Band Gap (eV)Electronic gap calculated for this specific reported structure, measured in electronvolts. | E above hull (eV/atom)Thermodynamic distance from the convex hull for this structure, normalized per atom. Lower is generally more stable. | E/atom (eV)Computed total energy normalized per atom. Use energy above hull, not this value alone, when comparing stability. | Density (g/cm³)Mass per relaxed crystal volume, reported in grams per cubic centimeter. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-6m2 (No. 187) | hexagonal | 4.37 | 0.0000 | -9.651 | 2.25 |
| R3m (No. 160) | trigonal | 4.39 | 0.0001 | -9.650 | 2.25 |
| Fmm2 (No. 42) | orthorhombic | 3.25 | 0.0013 | -9.649 | 2.17 |
| P63/mmc (No. 194) | hexagonal | 0.00 | 0.0017 | -9.649 | 2.22 |
| P63/mmc (No. 194) | hexagonal | 4.27 | 0.0057 | -9.645 | 1.96 |
| P63/mmc (No. 194) | hexagonal | 3.96 | 0.0077 | -9.643 | 2.06 |
| F-43m (No. 216) | cubic | 4.45 | 0.0774 | -9.573 | 3.46 |
| P63mc (No. 186) | hexagonal | 5.20 | 0.0947 | -9.556 | 3.45 |
| P1 (No. 1) | triclinic | 2.87 | 0.0982 | -9.552 | 2.50 |
| Cm (No. 8) | monoclinic | 1.57 | 0.1379 | -9.513 | 2.28 |
| P42/mnm (No. 136) | tetragonal | 4.78 | 0.1792 | -9.471 | 3.30 |
| Cc (No. 9) | monoclinic | 3.58 | 0.2194 | -9.431 | 2.54 |
Applications
Where Boron nitride is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Boron nitride, answered from cross-validated data.
What is BN?
Boron nitride is a thermodynamically stable, wide-gap insulating material that serves as a versatile building block in semiconductor technology.
What is BN used for?
What is the band gap of BN?
Is BN a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is BN thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of BN?
What is the density of BN?
How many polymorphs of BN are known?
What elements does BN contain?
Where does the data for BN come from?
How It Compares
Within the nitride semiconductors class.
Unlike its semiconductor siblings such as GaN or AlN, which are frequently utilized for their optoelectronic properties, boron nitride is distinguished by its insulating character and structural polymorphism. While GaN is a cornerstone of modern light-emitting technology, boron nitride is often favored for its superior thermal conductivity and electrical insulation capabilities.
Related Compounds
Other Nitride Semiconductors in the database.
Data sources & attribution
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
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