Bi2S3

Bismuthinite · Bismuth sulfide

Bismuthinite is a stable, semiconducting bismuth sulfide mineral widely studied for its potential in electronic and light-sensing applications.

BiS
Crystal structure of Bi2S3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Bismuthinite

Bismuthinite is a naturally occurring, thermodynamically stable sulfide that crystallizes in a distinct orthorhombic structure. As a well-characterized semiconducting material, it has garnered significant attention for its potential in thin-film devices and energy conversion technologies.

Its electronic character makes it a subject of ongoing research for light-harvesting applications. Because it resides on the convex hull, it exhibits robust structural stability, which is essential for consistent performance in various electronic and sensing environments.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

1.36 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

32
4 databases, 8 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of Bi2S3. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

1.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: medium

Hull Spread

0.000 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

2
jarvis, materials_project

Space Group Consensus

All match
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Bi2S3.

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
Uses

Applications

Where Bismuthinite is used.

Photovoltaic cellsPhotodetectorsThermoelectric devicesGas sensors
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

2 patents reference Bi2S3 or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
10934176Methods of degrading organic pollutants and preventing or treating microbe using Bi2S3-CdS particles
10105687Heterostructured Bi2S3—ZnS photocatalysts and methods thereof
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Bi2S3?

Bismuthinite is a stable, semiconducting bismuth sulfide mineral widely studied for its potential in electronic and light-sensing applications.

More questions
What is Bi2S3 used for?
Bismuthinite (Bi2S3) is used in photovoltaic cells, photodetectors, thermoelectric devices, and gas sensors.
What is the band gap of Bi2S3?
Bismuthinite (Bi2S3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 1.36 eV across 32 reported structures.
Is Bi2S3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.36 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Bi2S3 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Bismuthinite (Bi2S3) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of Bi2S3 are known?
32 structures of Bi2S3 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 8 distinct space groups.
How is Bi2S3 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Bi2S3 include sol gel, solid state (7 procedures documented).
What elements does Bi2S3 contain?
Bismuthinite (Bi2S3) contains Bi and S (2 elements).
Where does the data for Bi2S3 come from?
Bi2S3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a prominent binary sulfide, Bismuthinite serves as a foundational reference point for heavy-metal chalcogenides. It is distinguished by its high degree of structural data availability, reflecting its status as one of the most thoroughly documented compounds in its chemical family.

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

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