InSb3
InSb3 is a metallic, metastable binary compound composed of indium and antimony that exhibits significant structural complexity compared to traditional III-V semiconductors.
About InSb3
InSb3 is a specialized inorganic compound belonging to the III-V semiconductor class. Unlike many of its traditional semiconducting counterparts that exhibit distinct band gaps, this material displays a metallic electronic character, marking it as a distinct deviation from standard group III-V behavior. Its structural landscape is remarkably diverse, with numerous reported configurations across various databases.
Due to its position above the thermodynamic hull, InSb3 is considered a metastable phase. Its existence and structural variety make it a subject of interest for researchers investigating non-equilibrium synthesis and the limits of phase stability in binary pnictides. This compound serves as a fascinating case study in the complex bonding environments possible between indium and antimony.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for InSb3, aggregated across 5 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.
Cross-Source DFT Agreement
How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of InSb3. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.
Agreement ScoreA normalized confidence score summarizing how closely independent DFT databases agree. Higher scores mean tighter cross-source agreement.
Hull SpreadDifference between the highest and lowest energy-above-hull values reported by comparable sources. Smaller spread means less thermodynamic disagreement.
Sources ComparedNumber and names of computational sources with comparable entries for this formula.
Space Group ConsensusWhether independent sources predict the same crystal symmetry for the lowest-energy structure.
Reported Structures
Lowest-energy structures reported for InSb3, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.0780 | 0.011 | — |
| Fm-3m (No. 225) | cubic | 0.00 | 0.1492 | -24.894 | 7.30 |
| Pm-3m (No. 221) | cubic | 0.00 | 0.1502 | -24.893 | 7.18 |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.1803 | 0.114 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.2358 | 0.169 | — |
| Fm-3m (No. 225) | cubic | 0.00 | 0.2365 | 0.190 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.2400 | 0.173 | — |
| Pm-3m (No. 221) | cubic | 0.00 | 0.2412 | 0.194 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.2463 | 0.180 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.2620 | 0.195 | — |
| P-1 (No. 2) | triclinic | — | — | — | 5.22 |
| Pm-3m (No. 221) | cubic | — | — | — | 7.18 |
Applications
Where InSb3 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about InSb3, answered from cross-validated data.
What is InSb3?
InSb3 is a metallic, metastable binary compound composed of indium and antimony that exhibits significant structural complexity compared to traditional III-V semiconductors.
What is InSb3 used for?
What is the band gap of InSb3?
Is InSb3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is InSb3 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of InSb3?
What is the density of InSb3?
How many polymorphs of InSb3 are known?
What elements does InSb3 contain?
Where does the data for InSb3 come from?
How It Compares
Within the iii-v semiconductors class.
In contrast to conventional III-V semiconductors like AlAs, AlSb, or InP, which are typically characterized by their stable, wide-gap semiconducting properties, InSb3 stands out as a metallic outlier. While siblings such as GaN and InN are prized for their optoelectronic utility, InSb3 represents a more exotic, less stable structural arrangement that challenges the typical stoichiometric trends found in the rest of this well-studied class.
Related Compounds
Other III-V Semiconductors in the database.
Data sources & attribution
- 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)
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project (materialsproject.org). Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013). (CC-BY-4.0)
- jarvis — Data from JARVIS (jarvis.nist.gov), NIST. Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020). (LicenseRef-US-Gov-PD)
- mpaloe — Data from MP-ALOE. Cite: Kuner et al., npj Comput. Mater. (2025), doi:10.1038/s41524-025-01834-9.
- nomad — Data from NOMAD (nomad-lab.eu). Cite: Draxl & Scheffler, J. Phys. Mater. 2, 036001 (2019). (CC-BY-4.0)
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