FeCl3

Iron(III) chloride · Ferric chloride

Iron(III) chloride is a stable, semiconducting iron-based compound frequently used as a chemical reagent and industrial flocculant.

ClFe
Crystal structure of FeCl3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Iron(III) chloride

Iron(III) chloride is a thermodynamically stable compound that exists as a semiconducting material. Its robust structural profile is evidenced by its extensive representation across multiple research databases, marking it as a well-characterized inorganic substance in materials science. The compound plays a vital role in chemical synthesis and industrial processing due to its unique electronic properties and reactivity. Its stability makes it a reliable reagent in various chemical pathways, serving as a cornerstone for several manufacturing and purification techniques.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Iron(III) chloride, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

0.04–1.35 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

53
3 databases, 15 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting FeCl3.

Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Uses

Applications

Where Iron(III) chloride is used.

Water treatmentSewage disposalMetal etchingChemical synthesisCoagulant in industrial processes
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

2 patents reference FeCl3 or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
4540551Two stage chlorination of titaniferous ore with FeCl.sub.3 reclamation
5064632Process for partial oxidation of FeCl.sub.2 to FeCl.sub.3
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Iron(III) chloride, answered from cross-validated data.

What is FeCl3?

Iron(III) chloride is a stable, semiconducting iron-based compound frequently used as a chemical reagent and industrial flocculant.

More questions
What is FeCl3 used for?
Iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) is used in water treatment, sewage disposal, metal etching, chemical synthesis, and coagulant in industrial processes.
What is the band gap of FeCl3?
Iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.04–1.35 eV across 53 reported structures.
Is FeCl3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.35 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is FeCl3 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of FeCl3 are known?
53 structures of FeCl3 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 15 distinct space groups.
How is FeCl3 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for FeCl3 include sol gel, solid state (10 procedures documented).
What elements does FeCl3 contain?
Iron(III) chloride (FeCl3) contains Cl and Fe (2 elements).
Where does the data for FeCl3 come from?
FeCl3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a prominent inorganic halide, this compound serves as a fundamental reference point for understanding the behavior of iron-based semiconductors. Its position on the convex hull ensures it remains a primary subject for studies involving metal-halide interactions and electronic material development.

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

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