Be2C

beryllium carbide · beryllium methanide

Beryllium carbide is a stable, semiconducting ceramic material known for its high hardness and utility in demanding thermal environments.

BeC
Crystal structure of Be2C
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About beryllium carbide

Beryllium carbide is a robust, thermodynamically stable compound formed from beryllium and carbon. As a semiconductor, it exhibits distinct electronic characteristics that set it apart from typical ionic carbides, making it a subject of significant interest in materials science research. Its structural integrity is underscored by the extensive number of reported configurations documented across major databases.

This material is primarily valued for its exceptional thermal and mechanical properties, which allow it to function in extreme environments. It serves as a critical component in advanced ceramic applications where high hardness and thermal stability are paramount requirements for performance.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

1.16 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

159
3 databases, 22 space groups
Uses

Applications

Where beryllium carbide is used.

high-temperature ceramicsnuclear reactor componentsabrasive materials
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about beryllium carbide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is Be2C?

Beryllium carbide is a stable, semiconducting ceramic material known for its high hardness and utility in demanding thermal environments.

More questions
What is Be2C used for?
beryllium carbide (Be2C) is used in high-temperature ceramics, nuclear reactor components, and abrasive materials.
What is the band gap of Be2C?
beryllium carbide (Be2C) has a DFT-computed band gap of 1.16 eV across 159 reported structures.
Is Be2C a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.16 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Be2C thermodynamically stable?
Yes — beryllium carbide (Be2C) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of Be2C are known?
159 structures of Be2C are reported across 3 databases, spanning 22 distinct space groups.
What elements does Be2C contain?
beryllium carbide (Be2C) contains Be and C (2 elements).
Where does the data for Be2C come from?
Be2C data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a unique binary compound, beryllium carbide occupies a specialized niche in materials science. Unlike more common metallic carbides, its semiconducting nature and stable position on the convex hull make it a distinct reference point for studying the fundamental bonding interactions between light elements.

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

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