CaF2
fluorite · fluorspar
CaF2 is a thermodynamically stable, wide-gap insulating compound primarily recognized for its role in optical manufacturing and industrial applications.
About fluorite
CaF2 is a highly stable inorganic compound that serves as a fundamental wide-gap insulator. Its robust structural integrity and electronic properties make it a cornerstone material in high-performance optics and chemical synthesis. Due to its presence on the convex hull, it exhibits exceptional thermodynamic stability under standard conditions.
With a vast array of documented structural variations, this compound is extensively utilized in research and industrial sectors. Its ability to maintain insulating characteristics across diverse environments ensures its continued relevance in the development of advanced optical components and specialized industrial coatings.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for fluorite, aggregated across 4 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Applications
Where fluorite is used.
Patent Landscape
12 patents reference CaF2 or close compositional variants.
| Patent | Title | Assignee | Granted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5026575 | Growth of polycrystalline CaF.sub.2 via low temperature OMCVD | — | — |
| 10074523 | Polycrystalline CaF2 member, member for plasma treatment device, plasma treatment device, and method for produ | — | — |
| 4965244 | CaF.sub.2 passivation layers for high temperature superconductors | — | — |
| 9789335 | MgF2—CaF2 binary system sintered body for radiation moderator and method for producing the same | — | — |
| 4040896 | Chemical polish for BaF.sub.2 and CaF.sub.2 | — | — |
| 9580331 | CaF2 polycrystalline body, focus ring, plasma processing apparatus, and method for producing CaF2 polycrystall | — | — |
| 7534412 | Large-volume CaF2 single crystals with reduced scattering and improved laser stability, and uses thereof | — | — |
| 9586867 | CaF2 translucent ceramics and manufacturing method of CaF2 translucent ceramics | — | — |
| 7393409 | Method for making large-volume CaF2 single cystals with reduced scattering and improved laser stability, the c | — | — |
| 5545247 | Particulate CaF.sub.2 and BaF.sub.2 agent for improving the machinability of sintered iron-based powder | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about fluorite, answered from cross-validated data.
What is CaF2?
CaF2 is a thermodynamically stable, wide-gap insulating compound primarily recognized for its role in optical manufacturing and industrial applications.
What is CaF2 used for?
What is the band gap of CaF2?
Is CaF2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is CaF2 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of CaF2 are known?
What elements does CaF2 contain?
Where does the data for CaF2 come from?
How It Compares
As a highly stable and well-documented material, CaF2 represents a benchmark for insulating compounds. Its structural versatility and wide-gap electronic nature define the standard for performance in its class, serving as a primary reference point for researchers investigating stable, transparent inorganic insulators.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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