MgAl2O4
spinel · magnesium aluminate
MgAl2O4 is a highly stable, insulating magnesium aluminate spinel used extensively as a durable support material in industrial catalysis.
About spinel
MgAl2O4 is a quintessential spinel oxide characterized by its exceptional thermodynamic stability and insulating electronic nature. As a highly structured material, it serves as a robust framework for catalytic processes where chemical and thermal resilience are paramount. Its well-defined crystal lattice makes it a reliable substrate for high-temperature applications and advanced material synthesis. Beyond its structural utility, the compound is valued for its mechanical hardness and chemical inertness, which allow it to function effectively in demanding industrial environments. It is frequently utilized as a support material in heterogeneous catalysis, providing a stable surface for active phases to interact with reactants without degrading under harsh conditions.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for spinel, aggregated across 4 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 MgAl2O4, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fd-3m (No. 227) | cubic | 5.11 | 0.0000 | -7.500 | 3.58 |
| R3m (No. 160) | trigonal | 4.57 | 0.0074 | -7.493 | 3.59 |
| C2/m (No. 12) | monoclinic | 4.46 | 0.0077 | -7.493 | 3.47 |
| Cm (No. 8) | monoclinic | 3.81 | 0.0091 | -7.491 | 3.59 |
| P3m1 (No. 156) | trigonal | 4.59 | 0.0100 | -7.491 | 3.47 |
| P3m1 (No. 156) | trigonal | 4.12 | 0.0132 | -7.487 | 3.59 |
| R3m (No. 160) | trigonal | 4.20 | 0.0165 | -7.484 | 3.47 |
| R3m (No. 160) | trigonal | 4.28 | 0.0206 | -7.480 | 3.47 |
| P3m1 (No. 156) | trigonal | 4.25 | 0.0270 | -7.473 | 3.47 |
| Cm (No. 8) | monoclinic | 4.38 | 0.0271 | -7.473 | 3.47 |
| Cm (No. 8) | monoclinic | 2.85 | 0.0315 | -7.469 | 3.47 |
| R3m (No. 160) | trigonal | 4.03 | 0.0332 | -7.467 | 3.48 |
Applications
Where spinel is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about spinel, answered from cross-validated data.
What is MgAl2O4?
MgAl2O4 is a highly stable, insulating magnesium aluminate spinel used extensively as a durable support material in industrial catalysis.
What is MgAl2O4 used for?
What is the band gap of MgAl2O4?
Is MgAl2O4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is MgAl2O4 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of MgAl2O4?
What is the density of MgAl2O4?
How many polymorphs of MgAl2O4 are known?
What elements does MgAl2O4 contain?
Where does the data for MgAl2O4 come from?
How It Compares
Within the spinel oxide catalysts class.
Unlike the transition metal-based oxides in its class such as CuO or NiO, which often exhibit narrow-gap semiconducting or metallic behavior, MgAl2O4 is a wide-gap insulator. While complex perovskites like LaMnO3 or BiFeO3 are frequently studied for their specific magnetic or ferroelectric properties, MgAl2O4 is prized primarily for its structural stability and lack of electronic interference, making it a superior choice for inert catalyst supports compared to more reactive oxides like ZnO or Al2O3.
Related Compounds
Other Spinel Oxide Catalysts in the database.
Data sources & attribution
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
- mpaloe — Data from mpaloe.
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