Bi4Cu4Pb4S12

Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 is a semiconducting quaternary sulfide compound that is considered thermodynamically stable enough to be a target for experimental synthesis.

BiCuPbS
Crystal structure of Bi4Cu4Pb4S12
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Bi4Cu4Pb4S12

Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 is a complex quaternary sulfide composed of bismuth, copper, lead, and sulfur. As a semiconducting material, it exhibits electronic properties that make it a subject of interest for researchers exploring new functional inorganic compounds. Its status as a near-hull phase suggests that it is thermodynamically accessible and likely capable of being synthesized in a laboratory setting.

Given the multiple reported structures identified in materials databases, this compound represents a versatile building block within the broader family of metal sulfides. Its specific arrangement of cations and anions provides a platform for investigating charge transport and structural stability in multicomponent chalcogenide systems.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Bi4Cu4Pb4S12, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

0.61 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.009 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Near hull (likely stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

7
4 databases, 2 space groups
Uses

Applications

Where Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 is used.

Semiconductor researchMaterials science explorationChalcogenide-based electronics
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bi4Cu4Pb4S12, answered from cross-validated data.

What is Bi4Cu4Pb4S12?

Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 is a semiconducting quaternary sulfide compound that is considered thermodynamically stable enough to be a target for experimental synthesis.

More questions
What is Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 used for?
Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 is used in semiconductor research, materials science exploration, and chalcogenide-based electronics.
What is the band gap of Bi4Cu4Pb4S12?
Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.61 eV across 7 reported structures.
Is Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 0.61 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 thermodynamically stable?
Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 has a lowest energy above hull of 0.009 eV/atom (near hull (likely stable)).
How many polymorphs of Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 are known?
7 structures of Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 2 distinct space groups.
What elements does Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 contain?
Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 contains Bi, Cu, Pb, and S (4 elements).
Where does the data for Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 come from?
Bi4Cu4Pb4S12 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a unique quaternary sulfide, this compound occupies a specialized niche in materials science. Unlike simpler binary or ternary chalcogenides, the integration of four distinct elements allows for a highly tunable electronic environment, positioning it as a sophisticated candidate for future semiconductor research.

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

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