C3N2

C3N2 is a wide-gap insulating compound composed of carbon and nitrogen that exists as a metastable phase with numerous theoretical structural configurations.

CN
Crystal structure of C3N2
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About C3N2

C3N2 is an insulating carbon-nitrogen compound characterized by a wide electronic band gap. Its structural complexity is highlighted by the significant number of reported configurations found across various materials databases, reflecting its interest in high-pressure and theoretical chemistry research.

As a material that resides above the thermodynamic hull, C3N2 is considered metastable or unstable under ambient conditions. This positioning makes it a subject of intense investigation for researchers exploring synthetic pathways and the potential for novel carbon-nitride phases.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for C3N2, aggregated across 6 databases.

Band Gap

3.25–3.75 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.265 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Above hull
4 DFT sources

Structures

76
6 databases, 7 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of C3N2. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

1.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: high

Hull Spread

0.000 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

3
jarvis, materials_project, nomad

Space Group Consensus

All match
Uses

Applications

Where C3N2 is used.

High-pressure materials researchTheoretical condensed matter physicsCarbon-nitride synthesis studies
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about C3N2, answered from cross-validated data.

What is C3N2?

C3N2 is a wide-gap insulating compound composed of carbon and nitrogen that exists as a metastable phase with numerous theoretical structural configurations.

More questions
What is C3N2 used for?
C3N2 is used in high-pressure materials research, theoretical condensed matter physics, and carbon-nitride synthesis studies.
What is the band gap of C3N2?
C3N2 has a DFT-computed band gap of 3.25–3.75 eV across 76 reported structures.
Is C3N2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a wide band gap up to 3.75 eV it is an insulator / wide-band-gap material.
Is C3N2 thermodynamically stable?
C3N2 has a lowest energy above hull of 0.265 eV/atom (above hull).
How many polymorphs of C3N2 are known?
76 structures of C3N2 are reported across 6 databases, spanning 7 distinct space groups.
What elements does C3N2 contain?
C3N2 contains C and N (2 elements).
Where does the data for C3N2 come from?
C3N2 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a unique carbon-nitrogen phase, C3N2 serves as a critical data point in the broader exploration of nitrogen-rich carbon materials, where it represents the challenges of synthesizing and stabilizing metastable insulating frameworks.

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

Analyze C3N2 in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 53 integrated data sources.

Explore the Platform →