MgBi
MgBi is a metastable semiconducting intermetallic compound formed from magnesium and bismuth.
About MgBi
MgBi is a metastable intermetallic compound composed of magnesium and bismuth. As a semiconducting material, it represents a specialized electronic profile that distinguishes it from more common metallic alloys, making it a subject of interest for researchers investigating non-traditional semiconductor behavior.
Given its complex structural landscape, this compound is highly significant in fundamental materials research. Its existence across numerous reported structures highlights the intricate phase space of magnesium-bismuth systems and the challenges associated with stabilizing such metastable phases for practical implementation.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for MgBi, 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 MgBi, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| R-3m (No. 166) | trigonal | 0.00 | 0.0712 | -2.838 | 6.88 |
| Pmmn (No. 59) | orthorhombic | 0.00 | 0.0751 | -2.834 | 7.00 |
| C2/m (No. 12) | monoclinic | 0.00 | 0.0815 | -2.828 | 7.05 |
| Amm2 (No. 38) | orthorhombic | 0.04 | 0.0928 | -2.816 | 6.88 |
| Pmma (No. 51) | orthorhombic | 0.00 | 0.1026 | -2.807 | 7.09 |
| Pm-3m (No. 221) | cubic | 0.00 | 0.1046 | -2.805 | 7.22 |
| C2 (No. 5) | monoclinic | 0.00 | 0.1100 | -2.799 | 6.89 |
| Amm2 (No. 38) | orthorhombic | 0.16 | 0.1137 | -2.795 | 7.15 |
| C2 (No. 5) | monoclinic | 0.00 | 0.1219 | -2.787 | 6.90 |
| Fm-3m (No. 225) | cubic | 0.00 | 0.1283 | -2.781 | 6.77 |
| Amm2 (No. 38) | orthorhombic | 0.34 | 0.1321 | -2.777 | 6.94 |
| Amm2 (No. 38) | orthorhombic | 0.13 | 0.1491 | -2.760 | 6.91 |
Applications
Where MgBi is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about MgBi, answered from cross-validated data.
What is MgBi?
MgBi is a metastable semiconducting intermetallic compound formed from magnesium and bismuth.
What is MgBi used for?
What is the band gap of MgBi?
Is MgBi a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is MgBi thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of MgBi?
What is the density of MgBi?
How many polymorphs of MgBi are known?
What elements does MgBi contain?
Where does the data for MgBi come from?
How It Compares
As a distinct intermetallic phase, MgBi occupies a unique position within the broader landscape of magnesium-based compounds. While many binary systems in this family favor simple metallic bonding, MgBi stands out for its semiconducting nature, which offers a different set of electronic characteristics compared to more conventional, highly conductive intermetallic phases.
Data sources & attribution
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
- mpaloe — Data from mpaloe.
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