Ge2Sn2
Ge2Sn2 is a semiconducting germanium-tin alloy that exists as a metastable phase with diverse structural possibilities.
About Ge2Sn2
Ge2Sn2 is a binary alloy composed of germanium and tin that exhibits semiconducting electronic properties. As a material characterized by a high degree of structural diversity, it has been documented in numerous configurations across various computational databases. Its existence as a metastable phase suggests it is a transient or high-energy state rather than a ground-state structure. This material is of significant interest to researchers investigating the electronic tuning of group-four semiconductor alloys. By exploring the interplay between germanium and tin, scientists aim to understand how such compositions might influence charge carrier mobility and optical behavior in future electronic devices. While its thermodynamic profile indicates it sits above the stability hull, its prevalence in structural databases highlights its importance in mapping the complex phase space of semiconductor alloys.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Ge2Sn2, 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.
Reported Structures
Lowest-energy structures reported for Ge2Sn2, ranked by energy above hull.
| Space GroupSymmetry classification of the crystal arrangement. The number is the international space-group index. | Crystal SystemBroad lattice family, such as cubic, tetragonal, monoclinic, or triclinic, derived from unit-cell symmetry. | Band Gap (eV)Electronic gap calculated for this specific reported structure, measured in electronvolts. | E above hull (eV/atom)Thermodynamic distance from the convex hull for this structure, normalized per atom. Lower is generally more stable. | E/atom (eV)Computed total energy normalized per atom. Use energy above hull, not this value alone, when comparing stability. | Density (g/cm³)Mass per relaxed crystal volume, reported in grams per cubic centimeter. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P3m1 (No. 156) | trigonal | 0.21 | 0.4920 | -18.817 | 1.53 |
| Cmcm (No. 63) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P21/m (No. 11) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pmma (No. 51) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Imma (No. 74) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P4/nmm (No. 129) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P4/nmm (No. 129) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P4/nmm (No. 129) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Pmmn (No. 59) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P4/nmm (No. 129) | — | — | — | — | — |
| C2/m (No. 12) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P-3m1 (No. 164) | — | — | — | — | — |
Applications
Where Ge2Sn2 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ge2Sn2, answered from cross-validated data.
What is Ge2Sn2?
Ge2Sn2 is a semiconducting germanium-tin alloy that exists as a metastable phase with diverse structural possibilities.
What is Ge2Sn2 used for?
What is the band gap of Ge2Sn2?
Is Ge2Sn2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is Ge2Sn2 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of Ge2Sn2?
What is the density of Ge2Sn2?
How many polymorphs of Ge2Sn2 are known?
What elements does Ge2Sn2 contain?
Where does the data for Ge2Sn2 come from?
How It Compares
As a binary alloy of germanium and tin, Ge2Sn2 serves as a critical case study for understanding metastable phases in group-four semiconductor systems. Unlike stable, bulk-crystalline semiconductors, this compound represents a high-energy configuration that provides researchers with insights into the structural constraints and potential synthetic pathways for non-equilibrium materials.
Data sources & attribution
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
- aflow — Data from AFLOW. Cite: Curtarolo et al., Comp. Mater. Sci. 58, 218 (2012).
- nomad — Data from NOMAD. Cite: Draxl & Scheffler, J. Phys. Mater. 2, 036001 (2019).
- omat24 — Data from OMat24 (Meta FAIR). Cite: Barroso-Luque et al., arXiv 2410.12771 (2024).
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