BF3
Boron trifluoride · Boron fluoride
Boron trifluoride is a stable, insulating inorganic compound widely utilized as a powerful Lewis acid catalyst in chemical synthesis.

About Boron trifluoride
Boron trifluoride is a highly stable inorganic compound that exists as a wide-band-gap insulator. Its unique electronic structure makes it a potent Lewis acid, which is central to its utility in various chemical transformations and industrial processes.
Because it sits firmly on the convex hull, this compound is exceptionally stable under standard conditions. Its ability to accept electron pairs allows it to facilitate complex reactions, making it a critical reagent in synthetic chemistry and materials manufacturing.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Boron trifluoride, aggregated across 4 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Applications
Where Boron trifluoride is used.
Patent Landscape
1 patent reference BF3 or close compositional variants.
| Patent | Title | Assignee | Granted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 8765294 | Asymmetric type BF3 complex | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Boron trifluoride, answered from cross-validated data.
What is BF3?
Boron trifluoride is a stable, insulating inorganic compound widely utilized as a powerful Lewis acid catalyst in chemical synthesis.
What is BF3 used for?
What is the band gap of BF3?
Is BF3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is BF3 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of BF3 are known?
What elements does BF3 contain?
Where does the data for BF3 come from?
How It Compares
As a standalone, highly stable inorganic molecule, boron trifluoride serves as a fundamental benchmark for Lewis acidity in chemical synthesis. Unlike many complex solid-state materials, its simple molecular structure provides a clear, predictable reactivity profile that is essential for its role as a versatile catalyst in organic and industrial chemistry.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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