GaP

Gallium phosphide · GaP

Gallium phosphide is a thermodynamically stable III-V semiconductor widely used in the development of light-emitting diodes and other optoelectronic devices.

Crystal structure of GaP
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Gallium phosphide

Gallium phosphide is a prominent member of the III-V semiconductor family, characterized by its robust thermodynamic stability. As a material that sits securely on the convex hull, it serves as a reliable foundation for high-performance electronic and optoelectronic devices. Its semiconducting nature allows for precise control over charge carriers, making it a staple in modern semiconductor physics and materials engineering.

Beyond its fundamental stability, this compound is highly valued for its versatility in light-related applications. It is widely utilized in the manufacturing of various light-emitting components, where its electronic structure enables efficient photon emission. Given its extensive documentation across multiple structural databases, it remains one of the most thoroughly investigated materials in its class.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Gallium phosphide, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

0.21–1.60 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

93
4 databases, 21 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of GaP. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

1.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: medium

Hull Spread

0.000 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

2
jarvis, materials_project

Space Group Consensus

All match
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting GaP.

Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Uses

Applications

Where Gallium phosphide is used.

Light-emitting diodesPhotodetectorsOptoelectronic devicesSemiconductor research
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

2 patents reference GaP or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
4049373Apparatus for producing compact polycrystalline InP and GaP ingots
12084791Method of producing large EMI shielded GaAs and GaP infrared windows
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Gallium phosphide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is GaP?

Gallium phosphide is a thermodynamically stable III-V semiconductor widely used in the development of light-emitting diodes and other optoelectronic devices.

More questions
What is GaP used for?
Gallium phosphide (GaP) is used in light-emitting diodes, photodetectors, optoelectronic devices, and semiconductor research.
What is the band gap of GaP?
Gallium phosphide (GaP) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.21–1.60 eV across 93 reported structures.
Is GaP a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.60 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is GaP thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Gallium phosphide (GaP) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of GaP are known?
93 structures of GaP are reported across 4 databases, spanning 21 distinct space groups.
How is GaP synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for GaP include solid state (3 procedures documented).
What elements does GaP contain?
Gallium phosphide (GaP) contains Ga and P (2 elements).
Where does the data for GaP come from?
GaP data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the iii-v semiconductors class.

Within the diverse III-V semiconductor class, gallium phosphide occupies a distinct niche compared to siblings like gallium nitride or indium phosphide. While materials such as aluminum phosphide share similar structural motifs, gallium phosphide is often preferred for specific optoelectronic applications due to its favorable balance of stability and electronic performance, distinguishing it from the more specialized or less chemically robust members of the group.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other III-V Semiconductors in the database.

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

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