AlC3

AlC3 is a metallic, metastable aluminum-carbon compound known for its extensive structural polymorphism.

AlC
Crystal structure of AlC3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About AlC3

AlC3 is a metallic compound composed of aluminum and carbon. Due to its position above the thermodynamic hull, it is considered a metastable phase that requires specific synthesis conditions to be realized or maintained.

Despite its instability, the material exhibits significant structural diversity, with dozens of reported configurations across various databases. This complexity makes it a subject of interest for researchers investigating non-equilibrium bonding environments in metal-carbide systems.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for AlC3, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

2.749 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Above hull
3 DFT sources

Structures

47
4 databases, 17 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting AlC3.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about AlC3, answered from cross-validated data.

What is AlC3?

AlC3 is a metallic, metastable aluminum-carbon compound known for its extensive structural polymorphism.

More questions
What is the band gap of AlC3?
AlC3 is computed to be metallic (no band gap) in the reported DFT structures.
Is AlC3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Computed band structures report no gap, so it is metallic.
Is AlC3 thermodynamically stable?
AlC3 has a lowest energy above hull of 2.749 eV/atom (above hull).
How many polymorphs of AlC3 are known?
47 structures of AlC3 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 17 distinct space groups.
How is AlC3 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for AlC3 include sol gel, solid state (6 procedures documented).
What elements does AlC3 contain?
AlC3 contains Al and C (2 elements).
Where does the data for AlC3 come from?
AlC3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As an unclassified material within the broader landscape of aluminum carbides, AlC3 represents a unique case of a metallic phase that deviates from the typical stoichiometry and stability profiles found in more common, ceramic-like aluminum carbides.

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

Analyze AlC3 in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 53 integrated data sources.

Explore the Platform →