KO2

Potassium superoxide · Potassium hyperoxide

Potassium superoxide is a chemical compound used primarily to generate oxygen and remove carbon dioxide in emergency breathing apparatuses.

KO
Crystal structure of KO2
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Potassium superoxide

Potassium superoxide is a semiconducting inorganic compound that plays a critical role in chemical oxygen generation. Its ability to react with moisture and carbon dioxide makes it an essential component for sustaining breathable atmospheres in closed environments.

As a thermodynamically stable material, it is highly valued for its reliability in specialized safety equipment. The compound is widely recognized for its high structural diversity, with numerous reported configurations that underscore its importance in chemical research and industrial applications.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

0.15–0.50 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

116
3 databases, 22 space groups
Uses

Applications

Where Potassium superoxide is used.

Oxygen candlesEmergency breathing apparatusSpacecraft life support systemsSubmarine atmosphere control
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Potassium superoxide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is KO2?

Potassium superoxide is a chemical compound used primarily to generate oxygen and remove carbon dioxide in emergency breathing apparatuses.

More questions
What is KO2 used for?
Potassium superoxide (KO2) is used in oxygen candles, emergency breathing apparatus, spacecraft life support systems, and submarine atmosphere control.
What is the band gap of KO2?
Potassium superoxide (KO2) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.15–0.50 eV across 116 reported structures.
Is KO2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 0.50 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is KO2 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Potassium superoxide (KO2) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of KO2 are known?
116 structures of KO2 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 22 distinct space groups.
What elements does KO2 contain?
Potassium superoxide (KO2) contains K and O (2 elements).
Where does the data for KO2 come from?
KO2 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a prominent superoxide, this compound serves as a benchmark for oxygen-releasing materials, functioning as a primary chemical agent in applications where high-efficiency carbon dioxide scrubbing and oxygen regeneration are required simultaneously.

Data sources & attribution
  • latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform

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