Cu2SnSe3
Cu2SnSe3 is a copper-tin-selenide semiconductor used in the development of thin-film solar energy conversion devices.

About Cu2SnSe3
Cu2SnSe3 is a ternary chalcogenide semiconductor that functions as a promising absorber material for thin-film photovoltaic technologies. Its electronic structure is characterized by a very narrow band gap, positioning it as a semimetallic candidate within the broader family of copper-based chalcogenides.
The material exhibits favorable thermodynamic stability, placing it near the convex hull of its phase diagram, which suggests it is a viable target for experimental synthesis. Its structural versatility is evidenced by numerous reported configurations, making it a subject of significant interest for researchers optimizing light-harvesting efficiency.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Cu2SnSe3, 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.
Synthesis Routes
Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Cu2SnSe3.
Applications
Where Cu2SnSe3 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Cu2SnSe3, answered from cross-validated data.
What is Cu2SnSe3?
Cu2SnSe3 is a copper-tin-selenide semiconductor used in the development of thin-film solar energy conversion devices.
What is Cu2SnSe3 used for?
What is the band gap of Cu2SnSe3?
Is Cu2SnSe3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is Cu2SnSe3 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of Cu2SnSe3 are known?
How is Cu2SnSe3 synthesized?
What elements does Cu2SnSe3 contain?
Where does the data for Cu2SnSe3 come from?
How It Compares
Within the chalcogenide photovoltaic absorbers class.
Within the class of chalcogenide photovoltaic absorbers, Cu2SnSe3 serves as a selenium-based counterpart to the sulfur-rich Cu2SnS3. While many of its siblings like CuInLa2Se5 or Cu2Ga2Se4 rely on different elemental combinations to tune their electronic properties, Cu2SnSe3 is particularly notable for its narrow-gap behavior, offering a distinct alternative for spectral response modulation compared to the wider-gap members of the group.
Related Compounds
Other Chalcogenide Photovoltaic Absorbers in the database.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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