C3N

C3N is a metallic, thermodynamically unstable carbon-nitrogen compound known for its structural variety.

CN
Crystal structure of C3N
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About C3N

C3N is a carbon-nitrogen compound characterized by its metallic electronic behavior. Despite its lack of a band gap, the material is notable for its structural complexity, with numerous reported configurations across various databases. Its metallic nature suggests potential for unique conductive applications in specialized material science research. Being thermodynamically unstable, it exists above the hull, which presents significant challenges for synthesis and practical implementation. This instability makes it a subject of interest for researchers studying metastable phases and high-pressure carbon-based architectures.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for C3N, aggregated across 5 databases.

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

0.311 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Above hull
3 DFT sources

Structures

34
5 databases, 18 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of C3N. 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 C3N.

Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Uses

Applications

Where C3N is used.

Fundamental materials researchHigh-pressure synthesis studiesMetastable phase exploration
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about C3N, answered from cross-validated data.

What is C3N?

C3N is a metallic, thermodynamically unstable carbon-nitrogen compound known for its structural variety.

More questions
What is C3N used for?
C3N is used in fundamental materials research, high-pressure synthesis studies, and metastable phase exploration.
What is the band gap of C3N?
C3N is computed to be metallic (no band gap) in the reported DFT structures.
Is C3N a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Computed band structures report no gap, so it is metallic.
Is C3N thermodynamically stable?
C3N has a lowest energy above hull of 0.311 eV/atom (above hull).
How many polymorphs of C3N are known?
34 structures of C3N are reported across 5 databases, spanning 18 distinct space groups.
How is C3N synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for C3N include sol gel.
What elements does C3N contain?
C3N contains C and N (2 elements).
Where does the data for C3N come from?
C3N data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a unique carbon-nitrogen phase, C3N serves as an intriguing case study in the broader landscape of metastable materials. While many carbon-based compounds are insulators or semiconductors, its metallic character distinguishes it from more common, stable covalent structures, positioning it as an outlier in the study of light-element frameworks.

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

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