K8O16P4
K8O16P4 is a metastable, insulating compound containing potassium, phosphorus, and oxygen that is studied for its unique structural properties.

About K8O16P4
K8O16P4 is a complex inorganic compound composed of potassium, oxygen, and phosphorus. It functions as a wide-band-gap insulator, a characteristic that often dictates its behavior in specialized electronic or optical environments where conductive pathways must be strictly controlled.
As a metastable material, it represents a unique structural configuration that exists outside of the most common thermodynamic ground states. Its existence across multiple structural databases highlights its significance in fundamental materials research, where understanding such metastable phases is crucial for exploring new chemical landscapes.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for K8O16P4, 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 K8O16P4, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P21/c (No. 14) | monoclinic | 3.20 | 0.0901 | -6.253 | 2.51 |
| P21/c (No. 14) | — | — | — | — | — |
| — | — | — | — | — | 2.21 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about K8O16P4, answered from cross-validated data.
What is K8O16P4?
K8O16P4 is a metastable, insulating compound containing potassium, phosphorus, and oxygen that is studied for its unique structural properties.
What is the band gap of K8O16P4?
Is K8O16P4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is K8O16P4 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of K8O16P4?
What is the density of K8O16P4?
How many polymorphs of K8O16P4 are known?
What elements does K8O16P4 contain?
Where does the data for K8O16P4 come from?
How It Compares
As a member of the potassium-phosphorus-oxygen system, K8O16P4 occupies a distinct niche within its chemical class. While many related phosphate-based materials are known for their high stability, this compound serves as an intriguing example of metastable architecture, offering researchers a different structural pathway compared to more conventional, highly stable condensed phases.
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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