K3Li
K3Li is a metastable metallic compound consisting of potassium and lithium that exhibits significant structural diversity.

About K3Li
K3Li is a binary metallic compound formed from potassium and lithium. As a metallic system, it lacks an electronic band gap, reflecting its conductive nature and potential interest in studies of alkali metal alloys. The material is characterized by a significant degree of structural diversity, with numerous reported configurations across various databases. Its thermodynamic status as being above the hull suggests it is a metastable phase, which is a common feature for specific compositions in alkali metal systems that require precise synthesis conditions to stabilize. This complexity makes it a compelling subject for researchers investigating the limits of phase stability in simple metal alloys.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for K3Li, 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.
Synthesis Routes
Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting K3Li.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about K3Li, answered from cross-validated data.
What is K3Li?
K3Li is a metastable metallic compound consisting of potassium and lithium that exhibits significant structural diversity.
What is the band gap of K3Li?
Is K3Li a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is K3Li thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of K3Li are known?
How is K3Li synthesized?
What elements does K3Li contain?
Where does the data for K3Li come from?
How It Compares
As a binary alkali metal compound, K3Li represents a specialized case within the broader landscape of metallic alloys. Unlike more stable, naturally occurring intermetallic phases, it occupies a metastable position that highlights the intricate balance of atomic interactions between potassium and lithium. Its existence in multiple reported structures underscores its role as a subject of interest for understanding structural polymorphism in systems where thermodynamic stability is not easily achieved.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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