AlF3

Aluminum fluoride · Aluminium fluoride

Aluminum fluoride is a stable, insulating inorganic compound widely utilized in the industrial production of aluminum metal.

AlF
Crystal structure of AlF3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Aluminum fluoride

Aluminum fluoride is a highly stable inorganic compound that exists as a wide-band-gap insulator. Its structural integrity is underscored by its position on the convex hull, making it a robust and reliable material for various chemical and industrial applications.

Due to its unique electronic properties and inherent stability, this compound serves as a critical component in the production of aluminum metal. Its widespread use is supported by extensive structural data, reflecting its significance in modern materials science and chemical manufacturing.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

5.49–7.60 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

162
3 databases, 32 space groups
Uses

Applications

Where Aluminum fluoride is used.

Aluminum smeltingFlux for non-ferrous metalsOptical material productionCeramic manufacturing
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

3 patents reference AlF3 or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
4910172Preparation of mullite whiskers from AlF.sub.3, SiO.sub.2, and Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 powders
6187275Recovery of AlF3 from spent potliner
5417954Phases of NH.sub.4 AlF.sub.4 and AlF.sub.3
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Aluminum fluoride, answered from cross-validated data.

What is AlF3?

Aluminum fluoride is a stable, insulating inorganic compound widely utilized in the industrial production of aluminum metal.

More questions
What is AlF3 used for?
Aluminum fluoride (AlF3) is used in aluminum smelting, flux for non-ferrous metals, optical material production, and ceramic manufacturing.
What is the band gap of AlF3?
Aluminum fluoride (AlF3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 5.49–7.60 eV across 162 reported structures.
Is AlF3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a wide band gap up to 7.60 eV it is an insulator / wide-band-gap material.
Is AlF3 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Aluminum fluoride (AlF3) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of AlF3 are known?
162 structures of AlF3 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 32 distinct space groups.
What elements does AlF3 contain?
Aluminum fluoride (AlF3) contains Al and F (2 elements).
Where does the data for AlF3 come from?
AlF3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a foundational inorganic fluoride, this compound represents a standard for stability and insulating behavior in its class, serving as a primary reference point for researchers investigating aluminum-based halide systems.

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

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