Cu2Se

berzelianite · dicopper selenide

Cu2Se is a metastable, semimetallic copper selenide known for its extensive structural diversity and potential in electronic materials research.

CuSe
Crystal structure of Cu2Se
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About berzelianite

Cu2Se is a metastable inorganic compound composed of copper and selenium. Its electronic character is defined as near-zero-gap, placing it in a unique semimetallic regime that influences its behavior in various solid-state environments. The material is highly studied, with a vast array of reported structural configurations across major scientific databases.

Due to its distinct electronic nature, this compound is of significant interest for researchers investigating phase transitions and charge transport phenomena. Its structural complexity and metastability make it a focal point for understanding how copper-chalcogenide systems evolve under different synthesis conditions.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

0.08 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.083 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Metastable
3 DFT sources

Structures

68
5 databases, 14 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of Cu2Se. 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
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Cu2Se.

Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
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
Uses

Applications

Where berzelianite is used.

photovoltaic devicesthermoelectric materialssemiconductor research
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Cu2Se?

Cu2Se is a metastable, semimetallic copper selenide known for its extensive structural diversity and potential in electronic materials research.

More questions
What is Cu2Se used for?
berzelianite (Cu2Se) is used in photovoltaic devices, thermoelectric materials, and semiconductor research.
What is the band gap of Cu2Se?
berzelianite (Cu2Se) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.08 eV across 68 reported structures.
Is Cu2Se a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a near-zero band gap it behaves as a (semi)metal.
Is Cu2Se thermodynamically stable?
berzelianite (Cu2Se) has a lowest energy above hull of 0.083 eV/atom (metastable).
How many polymorphs of Cu2Se are known?
68 structures of Cu2Se are reported across 5 databases, spanning 14 distinct space groups.
How is Cu2Se synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Cu2Se include sol gel, solid state (7 procedures documented).
What elements does Cu2Se contain?
berzelianite (Cu2Se) contains Cu and Se (2 elements).
Where does the data for Cu2Se come from?
Cu2Se data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a standalone representative of its class in this context, Cu2Se serves as a primary benchmark for investigating the properties of copper-rich selenides. Its semimetallic behavior and structural diversity provide a foundational reference point for exploring the broader landscape of metastable binary chalcogenides.

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

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