Ag3SbS3

pyrargyrite · ruby silver ore

Ag3SbS3 is a stable, semiconducting sulfosalt mineral primarily recognized as a significant source of silver.

AgSSb
Crystal structure of Ag3SbS3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About pyrargyrite

Ag3SbS3 is a naturally occurring sulfosalt mineral that exhibits semiconducting electronic properties. As a thermodynamically stable phase located on the convex hull, it represents a robust configuration of silver, antimony, and sulfur atoms that has been extensively documented across numerous structural studies.

Its significance lies in its unique crystal chemistry and its historical status as a primary silver-bearing ore. Beyond its geological occurrence, the compound serves as a model system for investigating complex ternary chalcogenides, providing insights into the behavior of semiconducting materials with high structural diversity.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

0.95–1.84 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

18
4 databases, 4 space groups
Uses

Applications

Where pyrargyrite is used.

silver ore mininggeological researchsemiconductor materials study
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Ag3SbS3?

Ag3SbS3 is a stable, semiconducting sulfosalt mineral primarily recognized as a significant source of silver.

More questions
What is Ag3SbS3 used for?
pyrargyrite (Ag3SbS3) is used in silver ore mining, geological research, and semiconductor materials study.
What is the band gap of Ag3SbS3?
pyrargyrite (Ag3SbS3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.95–1.84 eV across 18 reported structures.
Is Ag3SbS3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.84 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Ag3SbS3 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — pyrargyrite (Ag3SbS3) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of Ag3SbS3 are known?
18 structures of Ag3SbS3 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 4 distinct space groups.
What elements does Ag3SbS3 contain?
pyrargyrite (Ag3SbS3) contains Ag, S, and Sb (3 elements).
Where does the data for Ag3SbS3 come from?
Ag3SbS3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a well-defined and thermodynamically stable compound, Ag3SbS3 serves as a foundational reference point for the study of silver-antimony-sulfur systems, representing a highly ordered arrangement that defines the baseline for stability within its chemical family.

Data sources & attribution
  • latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform

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