AgN3

Silver azide · Silver(I) azide

Silver azide is a highly sensitive, semiconducting inorganic compound primarily used as a primary explosive in detonators.

AgN
Crystal structure of AgN3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Silver azide

Silver azide is a semiconducting inorganic compound characterized by its nitrogen-rich composition. It is recognized for its high sensitivity and energetic nature, which stems from its thermodynamic instability relative to its constituent elements.

Due to its reactive profile, the compound is primarily utilized in specialized pyrotechnic and detonator applications. Its structural complexity is well-documented, with numerous reported configurations reflecting its significant role in energetic materials research.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

1.57–1.63 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.625 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Above hull
2 DFT sources

Structures

123
4 databases, 23 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of AgN3. 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
Uses

Applications

Where Silver azide is used.

DetonatorsPyrotechnicsEnergetic materials research
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Silver azide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is AgN3?

Silver azide is a highly sensitive, semiconducting inorganic compound primarily used as a primary explosive in detonators.

More questions
What is AgN3 used for?
Silver azide (AgN3) is used in detonators, pyrotechnics, and energetic materials research.
What is the band gap of AgN3?
Silver azide (AgN3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 1.57–1.63 eV across 123 reported structures.
Is AgN3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.63 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is AgN3 thermodynamically stable?
Silver azide (AgN3) has a lowest energy above hull of 0.625 eV/atom (above hull).
How many polymorphs of AgN3 are known?
123 structures of AgN3 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 23 distinct space groups.
What elements does AgN3 contain?
Silver azide (AgN3) contains Ag and N (2 elements).
Where does the data for AgN3 come from?
AgN3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As an energetic inorganic salt, silver azide occupies a distinct niche within materials science, functioning as a primary explosive where high sensitivity to external stimuli is a functional requirement rather than a drawback.

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

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