BiF5

Bismuth pentafluoride · Bismuth(V) fluoride

Bismuth pentafluoride is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound primarily used as a powerful fluorinating agent in chemical synthesis.

BiF
Crystal structure of BiF5
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Bismuth pentafluoride

Bismuth pentafluoride is a high-valent binary fluoride characterized by its semiconducting electronic nature. As a thermodynamically stable compound, it occupies a significant position on the convex hull, reflecting its robust structural integrity. Its chemical behavior is defined by the high oxidation state of the bismuth center, which makes it a highly reactive and effective reagent in synthetic chemistry.

Due to its strong fluorinating capabilities, this compound is primarily utilized in specialized chemical synthesis and materials processing. Its stability allows for controlled handling in specific laboratory environments, where it serves as a critical source of reactive fluorine for the modification of organic and inorganic substrates.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

0.40–2.44 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

56
4 databases, 14 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of BiF5. 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
Uses

Applications

Where Bismuth pentafluoride is used.

Fluorinating agentChemical synthesisOxidizing agent
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Bismuth pentafluoride, answered from cross-validated data.

What is BiF5?

Bismuth pentafluoride is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound primarily used as a powerful fluorinating agent in chemical synthesis.

More questions
What is BiF5 used for?
Bismuth pentafluoride (BiF5) is used in fluorinating agent, chemical synthesis, and oxidizing agent.
What is the band gap of BiF5?
Bismuth pentafluoride (BiF5) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.40–2.44 eV across 56 reported structures.
Is BiF5 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 2.44 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is BiF5 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Bismuth pentafluoride (BiF5) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of BiF5 are known?
56 structures of BiF5 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 14 distinct space groups.
What elements does BiF5 contain?
Bismuth pentafluoride (BiF5) contains Bi and F (2 elements).
Where does the data for BiF5 come from?
BiF5 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a binary fluoride of a heavy p-block element, this compound represents a distinct class of high-oxidation-state halides. While many fluorides of this type are highly volatile or unstable, this material stands out for its thermodynamic stability, providing a reliable platform for studying the chemistry of bismuth in its highest oxidation state.

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

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