Rb4Sb12Se20

Rb4Sb12Se20 is a stable, semiconducting quaternary chalcogenide material investigated for its potential applications in thermoelectric energy conversion.

Crystal structure of Rb4Sb12Se20 (orthorhombic, Pnma (No. 62))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Rb4Sb12Se20

Rb4Sb12Se20 is a complex semiconducting chalcogenide that exists as a thermodynamically stable phase on the convex hull. Its structural complexity and electronic properties make it a subject of interest for researchers investigating advanced thermoelectric materials that can efficiently convert heat into electricity.

As part of the broader family of chalcogenide-based semiconductors, this compound is studied for its potential to manipulate phonon and electron transport. Its stability and distinct chemical composition provide a unique platform for exploring solid-state physics in the context of energy harvesting technologies.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Rb4Sb12Se20, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

0.68–1.26 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

5
4 databases, 3 space groups
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for Rb4Sb12Se20, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic0.680.0000-4.1435.01
P21/c (No. 14)monoclinic1.260.0051-4.1385.04
Pnma (No. 62)
4.54
No. 0unknown1.32
Uses

Applications

Where Rb4Sb12Se20 is used.

Thermoelectric energy conversionSolid-state physics researchSemiconductor materials development
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Rb4Sb12Se20, answered from cross-validated data.

What is Rb4Sb12Se20?

Rb4Sb12Se20 is a stable, semiconducting quaternary chalcogenide material investigated for its potential applications in thermoelectric energy conversion.

More questions
What is Rb4Sb12Se20 used for?
Rb4Sb12Se20 is used in thermoelectric energy conversion, solid-state physics research, and semiconductor materials development.
What is the band gap of Rb4Sb12Se20?
Rb4Sb12Se20 has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.68–1.26 eV across 5 reported structures.
Is Rb4Sb12Se20 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.26 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Rb4Sb12Se20 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Rb4Sb12Se20 sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
What is the crystal structure of Rb4Sb12Se20?
The lowest-energy reported polymorph of Rb4Sb12Se20 is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma (No. 62).
What is the density of Rb4Sb12Se20?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of Rb4Sb12Se20 is 5.01 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of Rb4Sb12Se20 are known?
5 structures of Rb4Sb12Se20 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 3 distinct space groups.
What elements does Rb4Sb12Se20 contain?
Rb4Sb12Se20 contains Rb, Sb, and Se (3 elements).
Where does the data for Rb4Sb12Se20 come from?
Rb4Sb12Se20 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, aflow, omat24, cod.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the bismuth chalcogenide thermoelectrics class.

While classic thermoelectric materials like Bi2Te3 and Sb2Te3 are widely utilized for their optimized performance, Rb4Sb12Se20 represents a more structurally intricate alternative within the chalcogenide class. Unlike the simpler binary systems such as Sb2Se3, this quaternary compound offers a different approach to tuning thermal conductivity through its complex lattice arrangement.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Bismuth 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).
  • cod — Data from the Crystallography Open Database. Cite: Grazulis et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 40, D420 (2012).

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