FeN

FeN is a thermodynamically stable, metallic iron nitride compound characterized by its significant structural diversity.

FeN
Crystal structure of FeN (hexagonal, P63/mmc (No. 194))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About FeN

FeN is a metallic iron nitride compound that occupies a distinct position as a thermodynamically stable phase on the convex hull. Its electronic character is defined by its metallic nature, lacking a band gap, which distinguishes it from many insulating or semiconducting nitrides.

Due to its high structural diversity, with a vast number of reported configurations across major databases, FeN remains a subject of significant interest for researchers investigating iron-nitrogen systems. Its stability suggests potential for synthesis and utility in specialized metallurgical and catalytic applications.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Stable
3 DFT sources

Structures

216
5 databases, 33 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of FeN. 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, oqmd

Space Group Consensus

All match
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for FeN, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
F-43m (No. 216)cubic0.000.0000-0.298—
F-43m (No. 216)cubic0.000.0000-8.7186.27
——0.000.0001-0.229—
——0.000.1110-0.118—
——0.000.1872-0.042—
——0.000.1873-0.042—
P63/mmc (No. 194)hexagonal0.000.1895-8.5287.14
P63/mmc (No. 194)hexagonal0.000.2005-0.098—
P63/mmc (No. 194)hexagonal0.000.2005-0.098—
——0.000.31550.087—
——0.000.38050.152—
——0.000.38350.155—
Uses

Applications

Where FeN is used.

Catalysis researchMetallurgical additivesMagnetic material studies
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is FeN?

FeN is a thermodynamically stable, metallic iron nitride compound characterized by its significant structural diversity.

More questions
What is FeN used for?
FeN is used in catalysis research, metallurgical additives, and magnetic material studies.
What is the band gap of FeN?
The reported DFT structures of FeN show no band gap. Standard DFT often misses gaps (especially in transition-metal oxides), so this is not proof the real material is a metal.
Is FeN a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT calculations predict no band gap. Standard DFT can miss gaps, so measurements are needed to confirm metallic behavior.
Is FeN thermodynamically stable?
Yes — FeN sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. stable.
What is the crystal structure of FeN?
The reference structure of FeN is hexagonal symmetry, space group P63/mmc (No. 194).
What is the density of FeN?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of FeN is 7.14 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of FeN are known?
216 structures of FeN are reported across 5 databases, spanning 33 distinct space groups.
What elements does FeN contain?
FeN contains Fe and N (2 elements).
Where does the data for FeN come from?
FeN data is cross-referenced from jarvis, materials_project, oqmd.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a thermodynamically stable metallic phase, FeN serves as a fundamental reference point for iron-nitrogen chemistry, representing a robust structural arrangement within the broader landscape of transition metal nitrides.

Data sources & attribution
  • jarvis — Data from JARVIS (jarvis.nist.gov), NIST. Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020). (LicenseRef-US-Gov-PD)
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project (materialsproject.org). Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • oqmd — Data from the OQMD (oqmd.org). Cite: Saal et al., JOM 65, 1501 (2013); Kirklin et al., npj Comp. Mater. 1, 15010 (2015). (CC-BY-4.0)

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