Ho8Pb4S16

Ho8Pb4S16 is a thermodynamically stable ternary semiconducting compound belonging to the lead chalcogenide class, primarily researched for its potential in thermoelectric applications.

Crystal structure of Ho8Pb4S16 (orthorhombic, Cmc21 (No. 36))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Ho8Pb4S16

Ho8Pb4S16 is a complex semiconducting material within the lead chalcogenide family. Its thermodynamic stability on the convex hull suggests a robust structural arrangement, making it a significant subject for researchers investigating advanced solid-state materials. The incorporation of holmium into the lead-sulfur framework alters its electronic landscape, providing unique properties distinct from simpler binary chalcogenides. This compound is primarily studied for its potential utility in thermoelectric energy conversion, where its specific electronic character and structural complexity are leveraged to manage thermal and electrical transport. Its existence across multiple structural databases underscores its importance as a stable phase in high-temperature material systems.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Ho8Pb4S16, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

2.12–2.25 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.001 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

4
3 databases, 2 space groups
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for Ho8Pb4S16, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Cmc21 (No. 36)orthorhombic2.120.0008-6.1206.36
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic2.250.0025-6.1186.47
Pnma (No. 62)
6.08
Uses

Applications

Where Ho8Pb4S16 is used.

Thermoelectric energy conversionSolid-state electronics researchAdvanced materials development
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Ho8Pb4S16, answered from cross-validated data.

What is Ho8Pb4S16?

Ho8Pb4S16 is a thermodynamically stable ternary semiconducting compound belonging to the lead chalcogenide class, primarily researched for its potential in thermoelectric applications.

More questions
What is Ho8Pb4S16 used for?
Ho8Pb4S16 is used in thermoelectric energy conversion, solid-state electronics research, and advanced materials development.
What is the band gap of Ho8Pb4S16?
Ho8Pb4S16 has a DFT-computed band gap of 2.12–2.25 eV across 4 reported structures.
Is Ho8Pb4S16 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 2.25 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Ho8Pb4S16 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Ho8Pb4S16 sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
What is the crystal structure of Ho8Pb4S16?
The lowest-energy reported polymorph of Ho8Pb4S16 is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Cmc21 (No. 36).
What is the density of Ho8Pb4S16?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of Ho8Pb4S16 is 6.36 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of Ho8Pb4S16 are known?
4 structures of Ho8Pb4S16 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 2 distinct space groups.
What elements does Ho8Pb4S16 contain?
Ho8Pb4S16 contains Ho, Pb, and S (3 elements).
Where does the data for Ho8Pb4S16 come from?
Ho8Pb4S16 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, aflow, omat24.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the lead chalcogenide thermoelectrics class.

Unlike the simpler binary lead chalcogenides such as PbS or PbSe, which are widely utilized for their straightforward rock-salt structures, Ho8Pb4S16 represents a more intricate ternary system. While members like PbS are foundational to thermoelectric research, Ho8Pb4S16 offers a different compositional complexity that allows for the tuning of properties through rare-earth substitution, distinguishing it from the binary or stoichiometric variants like PbS2 or Pb2S2.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Lead Chalcogenide Thermoelectrics 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).

Analyze Ho8Pb4S16 in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 53 integrated data sources.

Explore the Platform →