Ca2Al2SiO7

Gehlenite · Melilite

Gehlenite is a stable, insulating aluminosilicate mineral that serves as a key structural component in various ceramic and geological systems.

Crystal structure of Ca2Al2SiO7
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Gehlenite

Ca2Al2SiO7, commonly known as gehlenite, is a prominent member of the melilite group within the broader class of aluminosilicates. As a thermodynamically stable phase, it maintains a robust structural integrity that makes it a significant subject of study in mineralogy and materials science.

This compound exhibits wide-gap insulating behavior, characteristic of its complex oxide framework. Its stability and structural versatility allow it to serve as a foundational component in various high-temperature industrial processes and ceramic formulations.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Gehlenite, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

3.21–4.34 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

12
3 databases, 3 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Ca2Al2SiO7.

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
Uses

Applications

Where Gehlenite is used.

Refractory materialsCeramic manufacturingCement chemistryGeological thermobarometry
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Ca2Al2SiO7?

Gehlenite is a stable, insulating aluminosilicate mineral that serves as a key structural component in various ceramic and geological systems.

More questions
What is Ca2Al2SiO7 used for?
Gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7) is used in refractory materials, ceramic manufacturing, cement chemistry, and geological thermobarometry.
What is the band gap of Ca2Al2SiO7?
Gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7) has a DFT-computed band gap of 3.21–4.34 eV across 12 reported structures.
Is Ca2Al2SiO7 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a wide band gap up to 4.34 eV it is an insulator / wide-band-gap material.
Is Ca2Al2SiO7 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of Ca2Al2SiO7 are known?
12 structures of Ca2Al2SiO7 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 3 distinct space groups.
How is Ca2Al2SiO7 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Ca2Al2SiO7 include sol gel, solid state (5 procedures documented).
What elements does Ca2Al2SiO7 contain?
Gehlenite (Ca2Al2SiO7) contains Al, Ca, O, and Si (4 elements).
Where does the data for Ca2Al2SiO7 come from?
Ca2Al2SiO7 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the aluminosilicates and zeolite frameworks class.

Within the diverse family of aluminosilicates, Ca2Al2SiO7 is closely related to Sr2Al2SiO7, sharing a similar melilite-type structural framework. While compounds like Al2SiO5 exist as distinct polymorphs with different coordination environments, gehlenite is distinguished by its specific calcium-based stoichiometry, which provides a unique balance of thermal and chemical stability compared to alkali-bearing framework silicates such as NaAlSi3O8.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Aluminosilicates and Zeolite Frameworks in the database.

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

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