KSn
KSn is a stable semiconducting compound composed of potassium and tin that is frequently studied for its structural diversity.
About KSn
KSn is a distinct intermetallic compound formed from potassium and tin. As a thermodynamically stable phase located on the convex hull, it represents a robust configuration of these elements that maintains structural integrity under standard conditions.
This material exhibits semiconducting electronic character, positioning it as a subject of interest for fundamental studies in solid-state physics. With dozens of reported structures identified across major databases, it is a well-documented system for researchers investigating binary metal alloys.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for KSn, 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.
Cross-Source DFT Agreement
How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of KSn. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.
Agreement ScoreA normalized confidence score summarizing how closely independent DFT databases agree. Higher scores mean tighter cross-source agreement.
Hull SpreadDifference between the highest and lowest energy-above-hull values reported by comparable sources. Smaller spread means less thermodynamic disagreement.
Sources ComparedNumber and names of computational sources with comparable entries for this formula.
Space Group ConsensusWhether independent sources predict the same crystal symmetry for the lowest-energy structure.
Reported Structures
Lowest-energy structures reported for KSn, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | 0.79 | 0.0000 | -0.347 | — |
| I41/acd (No. 142) | tetragonal | 0.73 | 0.0000 | -2.851 | 3.41 |
| P1 (No. 1) | triclinic | 0.00 | 0.0000 | -0.270 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.3671 | 0.020 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.3680 | 0.021 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.3753 | 0.028 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.3803 | 0.033 | — |
| P4/mmm (No. 123) | tetragonal | 0.00 | 0.4521 | 0.182 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 0.7766 | 0.429 | — |
| — | — | 0.00 | 1.1308 | 0.783 | — |
| P1 (No. 1) | triclinic | — | — | — | 2.22 |
| P1 (No. 1) | triclinic | — | — | — | 2.50 |
Applications
Where KSn is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about KSn, answered from cross-validated data.
What is KSn?
KSn is a stable semiconducting compound composed of potassium and tin that is frequently studied for its structural diversity.
What is KSn used for?
What is the band gap of KSn?
Is KSn a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is KSn thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of KSn?
What is the density of KSn?
How many polymorphs of KSn are known?
What elements does KSn contain?
Where does the data for KSn come from?
How It Compares
As a unique binary phase, KSn serves as a primary reference point for understanding the interplay between alkali metals and post-transition metals in semiconducting intermetallics.
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.
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