KGe

KGe is a thermodynamically stable semiconducting compound composed of potassium and germanium.

GeK
Crystal structure of KGe (cubic, P-43n (No. 218))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About KGe

KGe is a distinct binary compound composed of potassium and germanium. As a thermodynamically stable material situated on the convex hull, it represents a robust phase within its chemical system, offering a reliable structural foundation for further investigation. Its electronic character as a semiconductor makes it a subject of interest for fundamental studies in solid-state physics and materials design. The compound is characterized by a significant degree of structural diversity, as evidenced by the numerous reported configurations found across major materials databases. This structural richness suggests a complex interplay between its constituent elements, providing researchers with a versatile platform to explore how atomic arrangement influences electronic behavior in semiconducting systems.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

1.06–1.44 eV
Range across DFT structures · ground state: narrow gap

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Stable
3 DFT sources

Structures

61
3 databases, 14 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of KGe. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

0.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: low

Hull Spread

0.644 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

3
jarvis, materials_project, oqmd

Space Group Consensus

Mixed (most: P-43n (No. 218))
Crystallography

Reported Structures

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

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
——1.060.0000-0.219—
P-43n (No. 218)cubic0.910.0000-3.0792.88
I41/acd (No. 142)tetragonal1.010.0094-3.0702.98
——1.440.1935-0.025—
——0.000.26780.049—
——0.000.50620.288—
——0.000.59170.373—
——0.000.60290.384—
——0.000.61770.399—
Fm-3m (No. 225)cubic0.000.64430.640—
——0.000.98540.767—
Fm-3m (No. 225)cubic0.000.9872-2.0922.34
Uses

Applications

Where KGe is used.

Semiconductor researchSolid-state chemistry studiesMaterials science exploration
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is KGe?

KGe is a thermodynamically stable semiconducting compound composed of potassium and germanium.

More questions
What is KGe used for?
KGe is used in semiconductor research, solid-state chemistry studies, and materials science exploration.
What is the band gap of KGe?
KGe has a DFT-computed band gap of 1.06–1.44 eV across 61 reported structures. Standard DFT underestimates band gaps, so the measured gap is typically larger.
Is KGe a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT predicts a band gap of up to 1.44 eV (a semiconductor). Measured gaps are typically larger.
Is KGe thermodynamically stable?
Yes — KGe sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. stable.
What is the crystal structure of KGe?
The reference structure of KGe is cubic symmetry, space group P-43n (No. 218).
What is the density of KGe?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of KGe is 2.88 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of KGe are known?
61 structures of KGe are reported across 3 databases, spanning 14 distinct space groups.
What elements does KGe contain?
KGe contains Ge and K (2 elements).
Where does the data for KGe come from?
KGe data is cross-referenced from oqmd, materials_project, jarvis, mpaloe, cod.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a standalone entry in this context, KGe serves as a primary example of a stable binary semiconductor within the alkali metal-germanide family, demonstrating the structural versatility inherent in these types of intermetallic frameworks.

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.
  • cod — Data from the Crystallography Open Database (crystallography.net/cod/). Cite: Grazulis et al., J. Appl. Cryst. 42, 726 (2009). (CC0-1.0)

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