Ge4K6Nb6O26
Ge4K6Nb6O26 is a metastable, semiconducting lead-free piezoelectric oxide used in materials research for electronic applications.

About Ge4K6Nb6O26
Ge4K6Nb6O26 is a complex semiconducting oxide that functions as a lead-free piezoelectric material. Its unique composition of germanium, potassium, niobium, and oxygen positions it as a subject of interest for researchers seeking environmentally friendly alternatives to traditional lead-based ceramics.
As a metastable compound, it represents a specialized structural arrangement within the broader field of piezoelectric oxides. Its electronic character and structural complexity make it a distinct candidate for investigating polarization phenomena in non-centrosymmetric inorganic frameworks.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Ge4K6Nb6O26, aggregated across 3 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 Ge4K6Nb6O26, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-62m (No. 189) | hexagonal | 2.32 | 0.0350 | -7.731 | 4.07 |
| P-62m (No. 189) | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | — | — | — | — | 3.13 |
Applications
Where Ge4K6Nb6O26 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Ge4K6Nb6O26, answered from cross-validated data.
What is Ge4K6Nb6O26?
Ge4K6Nb6O26 is a metastable, semiconducting lead-free piezoelectric oxide used in materials research for electronic applications.
What is Ge4K6Nb6O26 used for?
What is the band gap of Ge4K6Nb6O26?
Is Ge4K6Nb6O26 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is Ge4K6Nb6O26 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of Ge4K6Nb6O26?
What is the density of Ge4K6Nb6O26?
How many polymorphs of Ge4K6Nb6O26 are known?
What elements does Ge4K6Nb6O26 contain?
Where does the data for Ge4K6Nb6O26 come from?
How It Compares
Within the lead-free piezoelectrics class.
Within the diverse landscape of lead-free piezoelectrics, Ge4K6Nb6O26 offers a more complex structural chemistry compared to simpler perovskite-structured members like KNbO3 or BaTiO3. While those classic materials are widely utilized for their robust stability and well-understood ferroelectric behavior, this germanate-niobate compound provides a unique, albeit metastable, alternative that expands the chemical design space for functional oxide materials.
Related Compounds
Other Lead-Free Piezoelectrics in the database.
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).
- omat24 — Data from OMat24 (Meta FAIR). Cite: Barroso-Luque et al., arXiv 2410.12771 (2024).
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