MgSiSb2

MgSiSb2 is a metastable semiconducting ternary compound consisting of magnesium, silicon, and antimony.

MgSbSi
Crystal structure of MgSiSb2 (tetragonal, I-42d (No. 122))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About MgSiSb2

MgSiSb2 is a complex ternary compound composed of magnesium, silicon, and antimony. As a semiconducting material, it represents an interesting subject for solid-state research, particularly due to its metastable nature which suggests a delicate balance in its atomic arrangement.

Because it exists in a metastable state, the compound is of significant interest for researchers investigating phase stability and structural transformations. Its electronic character makes it a candidate for specialized semiconductor applications where unconventional material properties are required.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for MgSiSb2, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

0.84–0.99 eV
Range across DFT structures · ground state: narrow gap

Energy Above Hull

0.112 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Metastable
3 DFT sources

Structures

6
3 databases, 1 space group
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of MgSiSb2. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

0.74 / 1.00
Trust tier: medium

Hull Spread

0.066 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 MgSiSb2, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
I-42d (No. 122)tetragonal1.270.0509-3.9563.96
——0.990.1118-0.046—
I-42d (No. 122)tetragonal0.840.1170-0.064—
——0.000.39840.241—
I-42d (No. 122)tetragonal———4.05
I-42d (No. 122)tetragonal———3.96
I-42d (No. 122)tetragonal———4.08
Uses

Applications

Where MgSiSb2 is used.

Semiconductor researchSolid-state materials development
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MgSiSb2, answered from cross-validated data.

What is MgSiSb2?

MgSiSb2 is a metastable semiconducting ternary compound consisting of magnesium, silicon, and antimony.

More questions
What is MgSiSb2 used for?
MgSiSb2 is used in semiconductor research and solid-state materials development.
What is the band gap of MgSiSb2?
MgSiSb2 has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.84–0.99 eV across 6 reported structures. Standard DFT underestimates band gaps, so the measured gap is typically larger.
Is MgSiSb2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT predicts a band gap of up to 0.99 eV (a semiconductor). Measured gaps are typically larger.
Is MgSiSb2 thermodynamically stable?
MgSiSb2 has a lowest energy above hull of 0.112 eV/atom (metastable).
What is the crystal structure of MgSiSb2?
The reference structure of MgSiSb2 is tetragonal symmetry, space group I-42d (No. 122).
What is the density of MgSiSb2?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of MgSiSb2 is 3.96 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of MgSiSb2 are known?
6 structures of MgSiSb2 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 1 distinct space group.
What elements does MgSiSb2 contain?
MgSiSb2 contains Mg, Sb, and Si (3 elements).
Where does the data for MgSiSb2 come from?
MgSiSb2 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, oqmd, jarvis, mpaloe.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a unique ternary phase, MgSiSb2 occupies a distinct niche in materials science. Without direct structural siblings in this specific class, it serves as a primary reference point for understanding the interplay between magnesium, silicon, and pnictogen-based bonding environments.

Data sources & attribution
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project (materialsproject.org). Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • 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)
  • mpaloe — Data from MP-ALOE. Cite: Kuner et al., npj Comput. Mater. (2025), doi:10.1038/s41524-025-01834-9.

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