B4Fe4

B4Fe4 is a thermodynamically stable, metallic iron boride compound characterized by its consistent appearance in structural databases.

BFe
Crystal structure of B4Fe4 (orthorhombic, Cmcm (No. 63))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About B4Fe4

B4Fe4 is a metallic iron boride compound that occupies a stable position on the convex hull, indicating significant thermodynamic stability. Its structural integrity is underscored by its presence across multiple independent databases, reflecting a well-documented arrangement of iron and boron atoms.

As a metallic phase, this compound is of interest for its electronic properties and potential role in complex boride systems. Its stability makes it a compelling subject for researchers investigating the fundamental interactions between transition metals and light elements in the solid state.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for B4Fe4, aggregated across 5 databases.

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
3 DFT sources

Structures

27
5 databases, 9 space groups
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for B4Fe4, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Cmcm (No. 63)orthorhombic0.000.0000-7.9636.88
I41/amd (No. 141)tetragonal0.000.0084-7.9546.78
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic0.000.0164-7.9466.87
P42/ncm (No. 138)tetragonal0.000.3567-7.6065.07
Pm-3m (No. 221)
5.68
Pnma (No. 62)
Pnma (No. 62)
P63/mmc (No. 194)
Pnma (No. 62)
Pnma (No. 62)
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic1.69
Uses

Applications

Where B4Fe4 is used.

Fundamental materials researchSolid-state chemistry studiesPhase stability modeling
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about B4Fe4, answered from cross-validated data.

What is B4Fe4?

B4Fe4 is a thermodynamically stable, metallic iron boride compound characterized by its consistent appearance in structural databases.

More questions
What is B4Fe4 used for?
B4Fe4 is used in fundamental materials research, solid-state chemistry studies, and phase stability modeling.
What is the band gap of B4Fe4?
B4Fe4 is computed to be metallic (no band gap) in the reported DFT structures.
Is B4Fe4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Computed band structures report no gap, so it is metallic.
Is B4Fe4 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — B4Fe4 sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
What is the crystal structure of B4Fe4?
The lowest-energy reported polymorph of B4Fe4 is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Cmcm (No. 63).
What is the density of B4Fe4?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of B4Fe4 is 6.88 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of B4Fe4 are known?
27 structures of B4Fe4 are reported across 5 databases, spanning 9 distinct space groups.
What elements does B4Fe4 contain?
B4Fe4 contains B and Fe (2 elements).
Where does the data for B4Fe4 come from?
B4Fe4 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, aflow, omat24, cod, nomad.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a distinct iron-boron phase, B4Fe4 represents a specific stoichiometry within the broader family of binary borides. While many borides are studied for their hardness or magnetic properties, this compound is notable for its confirmed thermodynamic stability, serving as a reliable reference point for understanding the phase space of iron-rich boride materials.

Data sources & attribution
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
  • aflow — Data from AFLOW. Cite: Curtarolo et al., Comp. Mater. Sci. 58, 218 (2012).
  • omat24 — Data from OMat24 (Meta FAIR). Cite: Barroso-Luque et al., arXiv 2410.12771 (2024).
  • cod — Data from the Crystallography Open Database. Cite: Grazulis et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 40, D420 (2012).
  • nomad — Data from NOMAD. Cite: Draxl & Scheffler, J. Phys. Mater. 2, 036001 (2019).

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