Cr3O4
Cr3O4 is a metastable semiconducting spinel oxide used in research for its unique electronic and catalytic properties.

About Cr3O4
Cr3O4 is a semiconducting spinel oxide that represents a complex phase within the chromium-oxygen system. Due to its metastable nature, it offers unique structural characteristics that distinguish it from more conventional, highly stable oxide phases, making it a subject of interest for fundamental materials research.
As a member of the spinel oxide class, this compound is investigated for its potential in catalytic processes where surface electronic properties are critical. Its ability to host multiple oxidation states of chromium allows for versatile interactions in chemical environments, providing a platform for studying redox-active surface mechanisms.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Cr3O4, 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 Cr3O4 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Cr3O4, answered from cross-validated data.
What is Cr3O4?
Cr3O4 is a metastable semiconducting spinel oxide used in research for its unique electronic and catalytic properties.
What is Cr3O4 used for?
What is the band gap of Cr3O4?
Is Cr3O4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is Cr3O4 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of Cr3O4 are known?
What elements does Cr3O4 contain?
Where does the data for Cr3O4 come from?
How It Compares
Within the spinel oxide catalysts class.
Unlike the highly stable and widely utilized MgAl2O4 or the simple binary oxides like NiO and ZnO, Cr3O4 exists in a metastable state that requires precise synthesis conditions. While perovskite-structured siblings such as LaMnO3 or LaNiO3 are frequently studied for their robust electrocatalytic performance, Cr3O4 offers a distinct structural alternative that bridges the gap between simple binary oxides and more complex mixed-metal spinel systems.
Related Compounds
Other Spinel Oxide Catalysts in the database.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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