Al2O3

Alumina · Aluminum oxide, Corundum

Alumina is a chemically stable, insulating aluminum oxide widely utilized as a structural component and a versatile support material for catalysts.

Crystal structure of Al2O3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Alumina

Alumina is a thermodynamically stable oxide that serves as a cornerstone material in materials science. Its wide-band-gap electronic character makes it an exceptional electrical insulator, while its structural robustness ensures longevity in demanding chemical environments.

Because of its chemical inertness and high surface area potential, it is widely utilized as a catalyst support. It provides a stable framework for active metal phases, facilitating efficient chemical transformations across various industrial processes.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Alumina, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

0.05–5.85 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

277
3 databases, 39 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Al2O3.

Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Uses

Applications

Where Alumina is used.

Catalyst supportAbrasive materialsElectrical insulatorsRefractory ceramicsThin-film dielectric layers
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

58 patents reference Al2O3 or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
7763346Surface coated cutting tool made of cermet having property-modified α type Al2O3 layer of hard coating layer
8834833Process for preparing an aluminium oxide powder having a high alpha-Al2O3 content
8551319Solid polycrystalline potassium ion conductor having a β″-Al2O3 structure, its production and the preparation
6592640Fused Al2O3-Y2O3 eutectic abrasive particles, abrasive articles, and methods of making and using the same
6673132SiO2/Al2O3 composite abrasive and method for producing the same
6372679Cr2O3-Al2O3 sintered body and processes for producing same
9902654ZrO2-Al2O3-based ceramic sintered compact and production method thereof
7459408Al2O3 dispersion-strengthened Ti2AlN composites and a method for producing the same
7169198Microcrystalline α-Al2O3 shaped body, method for the production and use thereof
7141523Ceramics comprising Al2O3, REO, ZrO2 and/or HfO2, and Nb2O5 and/or Ta2O5 and methods of making the same
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Al2O3?

Alumina is a chemically stable, insulating aluminum oxide widely utilized as a structural component and a versatile support material for catalysts.

More questions
What is Al2O3 used for?
Alumina (Al2O3) is used in catalyst support, abrasive materials, electrical insulators, refractory ceramics, and thin-film dielectric layers.
What is the band gap of Al2O3?
Alumina (Al2O3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.05–5.85 eV across 277 reported structures.
Is Al2O3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a wide band gap up to 5.85 eV it is an insulator / wide-band-gap material.
Is Al2O3 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Alumina (Al2O3) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of Al2O3 are known?
277 structures of Al2O3 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 39 distinct space groups.
How is Al2O3 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Al2O3 include sol gel, solid state (10 procedures documented).
What elements does Al2O3 contain?
Alumina (Al2O3) contains Al and O (2 elements).
Where does the data for Al2O3 come from?
Al2O3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the spinel oxide catalysts class.

Within the family of spinel and complex oxides, Alumina stands out for its extreme thermodynamic stability and insulating nature compared to transition metal-based catalysts like CuO or NiO. While materials such as LaAlO3 share structural similarities in their oxide frameworks, Alumina is primarily valued for its role as an inert, high-performance substrate rather than for the redox-active properties found in perovskites like LaMnO3 or BiFeO3.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Spinel Oxide Catalysts in the database.

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

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