PW

PW is a thermodynamically stable, metallic transition-metal phosphide used in catalytic research.

Crystal structure of PW (orthorhombic, Pnma (No. 62))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About PW

PW is a stable transition-metal phosphide that sits firmly on the thermodynamic convex hull, indicating significant structural robustness. As a metallic compound, it facilitates efficient electron transfer, which is a critical attribute for materials designed to mediate chemical transformations. Its structural integrity is underscored by its presence across multiple experimental databases, reflecting its status as a well-documented phase in the phosphide family. This material is primarily investigated for its potential in catalytic processes where metallic conductivity and chemical stability are essential for performance. By leveraging the synergistic interaction between phosphorus and tungsten, PW serves as a candidate for advanced electrochemical systems requiring durable and conductive electrode surfaces.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for PW, aggregated across 5 databases.

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
3 DFT sources

Structures

359
5 databases, 43 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of PW. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

1.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: medium

Hull Spread

0.000 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

2
jarvis, materials_project

Space Group Consensus

All match
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for PW, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic0.000.0000-30.54912.25
Pm (No. 6)Monoclinic12.23
P6mm (No. 183)Hexagonal9.50
P6mm (No. 183)Hexagonal11.55
P21/m (No. 11)Monoclinic12.45
P21 (No. 4)Monoclinic8.63
P21/m (No. 11)Monoclinic10.86
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic9.80
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic14.23
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic13.00
8.91
P6mm (No. 183)Hexagonal13.12
Uses

Applications

Where PW is used.

Electrochemical catalysisHydrogen evolution reactionConductive electrode materials
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is PW?

PW is a thermodynamically stable, metallic transition-metal phosphide used in catalytic research.

More questions
What is PW used for?
PW is used in electrochemical catalysis, hydrogen evolution reaction, and conductive electrode materials.
What is the band gap of PW?
PW is computed to be metallic (no band gap) in the reported DFT structures.
Is PW a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Computed band structures report no gap, so it is metallic.
Is PW thermodynamically stable?
Yes — PW sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
What is the crystal structure of PW?
The lowest-energy reported polymorph of PW is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma (No. 62).
What is the density of PW?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of PW is 12.25 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of PW are known?
359 structures of PW are reported across 5 databases, spanning 43 distinct space groups.
What elements does PW contain?
PW contains P and W (2 elements).
Where does the data for PW come from?
PW data is cross-referenced from materials_project, mpaloe, omat24, cod.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the transition-metal phosphide catalysts class.

Within the diverse group of transition-metal phosphide catalysts, PW distinguishes itself through its unique metal-to-phosphorus ratio compared to more common phases like Ni2P or FeP. While many siblings such as NiP2, CoP2, and CuP2 exhibit varied stoichiometry and distinct electronic configurations, PW maintains a stable, metallic character that positions it as a specialized alternative for catalytic research where tungsten-based systems are preferred over nickel or iron counterparts.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Transition-Metal Phosphide 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.
  • omat24 — Data from OMat24 (Meta FAIR). Cite: Barroso-Luque et al., arXiv 2410.12771 (2024).
  • cod — Data from the Crystallography Open Database. Cite: Grazulis et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 40, D420 (2012).

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