Ge4Pb4S12
Ge4Pb4S12 is a thermodynamically stable ternary semiconductor composed of germanium, lead, and sulfur used in advanced materials research.
About Ge4Pb4S12
Ge4Pb4S12 is a complex semiconducting sulfide that occupies a stable position on the thermodynamic convex hull. Its unique structural arrangement of germanium, lead, and sulfur atoms makes it a significant subject for researchers investigating advanced thermoelectric materials and solid-state chemistry. Beyond its structural stability, this compound serves as a critical model for understanding how ternary chalcogenide systems can be engineered for electronic applications. Its presence in multiple structural databases highlights its importance in the broader study of lead-based semiconductor frameworks.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Ge4Pb4S12, aggregated across 3 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.
Reported Structures
Lowest-energy structures reported for Ge4Pb4S12, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P21/c (No. 14) | monoclinic | 1.76 | 0.0000 | -4.882 | 4.83 |
| P21/c (No. 14) | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | — | — | — | — | 4.63 |
Applications
Where Ge4Pb4S12 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ge4Pb4S12, answered from cross-validated data.
What is Ge4Pb4S12?
Ge4Pb4S12 is a thermodynamically stable ternary semiconductor composed of germanium, lead, and sulfur used in advanced materials research.
What is Ge4Pb4S12 used for?
What is the band gap of Ge4Pb4S12?
Is Ge4Pb4S12 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is Ge4Pb4S12 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of Ge4Pb4S12?
What is the density of Ge4Pb4S12?
How many polymorphs of Ge4Pb4S12 are known?
What elements does Ge4Pb4S12 contain?
Where does the data for Ge4Pb4S12 come from?
How It Compares
Within the lead chalcogenide thermoelectrics class.
Unlike the simpler binary lead chalcogenides such as PbS or PbSe, which are well-known for their straightforward rock-salt structures and high-performance thermoelectric properties, Ge4Pb4S12 represents a more complex architectural approach to the class. While binary members like PbS are often the primary focus for industrial thermoelectric applications, this ternary germanium-lead sulfide offers a distinct structural complexity that provides researchers with a different pathway for tuning electronic and thermal transport behavior.
Related Compounds
Other Lead Chalcogenide Thermoelectrics in the database.
Data sources & attribution
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
- aflow — Data from AFLOW. Cite: Curtarolo et al., Comp. Mater. Sci. 58, 218 (2012).
- omat24 — Data from OMat24 (Meta FAIR). Cite: Barroso-Luque et al., arXiv 2410.12771 (2024).
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