KNaSe

KNaSe is a stable, semiconducting ternary compound consisting of potassium, sodium, and selenium that is frequently studied for its structural diversity.

KNaSe
Crystal structure of KNaSe (orthorhombic, Pnma (No. 62))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About KNaSe

KNaSe is a ternary compound composed of potassium, sodium, and selenium. As a thermodynamically stable material located on the convex hull, it represents a robust phase within its chemical system, making it a subject of interest for researchers investigating complex chalcogenide frameworks. Its electronic character as a semiconductor suggests potential utility in optoelectronic or sensing applications where controlled charge transport is required. With multiple reported structures across various databases, this compound demonstrates significant structural diversity, providing a rich landscape for studying phase transitions and stability in alkali metal selenides. Its stable nature ensures it remains a reliable candidate for experimental synthesis and characterization in materials science.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for KNaSe, aggregated across 5 databases.

Band Gap

0.93–2.36 eV
Range across DFT structures · ground state: insulator

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Stable
4 DFT sources

Structures

19
5 databases, 2 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

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

Agreement Score

1.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: high

Hull Spread

0.000 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

3
jarvis, materials_project, oqmd

Space Group Consensus

All match
Crystallography

Reported Structures

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

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
——2.360.0000-1.145—
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic2.290.0000-1.223—
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic2.020.0000-3.2302.80
——2.180.0034-1.142—
——1.970.0290-1.116—
——2.180.0420-1.103—
——2.010.0471-1.098—
——2.150.0513-1.094—
——2.290.0680-1.077—
——2.000.0784-1.067—
F-43m (No. 216)cubic2.200.1583-1.065—
——1.420.1724-0.973—
Uses

Applications

Where KNaSe is used.

Semiconductor researchSolid-state chemistryMaterials science exploration
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is KNaSe?

KNaSe is a stable, semiconducting ternary compound consisting of potassium, sodium, and selenium that is frequently studied for its structural diversity.

More questions
What is KNaSe used for?
KNaSe is used in semiconductor research, solid-state chemistry, and materials science exploration.
What is the band gap of KNaSe?
KNaSe has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.93–2.36 eV across 19 reported structures. Standard DFT underestimates band gaps, so the measured gap is typically larger.
Is KNaSe a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT predicts a band gap of up to 2.36 eV (a semiconductor). Measured gaps are typically larger.
Is KNaSe thermodynamically stable?
Yes — KNaSe sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. stable.
What is the crystal structure of KNaSe?
The reference structure of KNaSe is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma (No. 62).
How many polymorphs of KNaSe are known?
19 structures of KNaSe are reported across 5 databases, spanning 2 distinct space groups.
What elements does KNaSe contain?
KNaSe contains K, Na, and Se (3 elements).
Where does the data for KNaSe come from?
KNaSe data is cross-referenced from oqmd, jarvis, materials_project, nomad, cod.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a member of the alkali metal selenide family, KNaSe occupies a unique position due to its balanced stoichiometry of two distinct alkali cations. Unlike simpler binary selenides, this ternary arrangement allows for more complex lattice configurations, positioning it as a foundational example for understanding how mixed-cation systems influence the electronic and structural properties of chalcogenide materials.

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)
  • jarvis — Data from JARVIS (jarvis.nist.gov), NIST. Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020). (LicenseRef-US-Gov-PD)
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project (materialsproject.org). Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • nomad — Data from NOMAD (nomad-lab.eu). Cite: Draxl & Scheffler, J. Phys. Mater. 2, 036001 (2019). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • 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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