Mo4P3

Mo4P3 is a metallic molybdenum phosphide that is considered a promising candidate for catalytic applications due to its favorable thermodynamic stability.

Crystal structure of Mo4P3 (orthorhombic, Pnma (No. 62))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Mo4P3

Mo4P3 is a transition-metal phosphide characterized by its metallic electronic structure. As a material that sits near the thermodynamic hull, it is considered a prime candidate for experimental synthesis and further investigation in catalytic research.

This compound represents an intriguing member of the phosphide family, where the combination of molybdenum and phosphorus creates a unique electronic environment. Its metallic nature is a key feature that distinguishes it from insulating or semiconducting phosphides, making it a subject of interest for researchers exploring efficient charge transfer in chemical processes.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Mo4P3, aggregated across 5 databases.

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

0.014 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Near Hull
3 DFT sources

Structures

20
5 databases, 10 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of Mo4P3. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

1.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: medium

Hull Spread

0.001 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

2
materials_project, oqmd

Space Group Consensus

—
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for Mo4P3, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic0.000.0138-19.3397.78
——0.000.0145-0.661—
Cmmm (No. 65)orthorhombic———5.22
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———5.27
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———10.83
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———7.33
C2 (No. 5)monoclinic———3.97
C2 (No. 5)monoclinic———6.37
Cmm2 (No. 35)orthorhombic———6.37
Cmm2 (No. 35)orthorhombic———6.21
Pnma (No. 62)orthorhombic———7.89
Cmmm (No. 65)orthorhombic———8.77
Uses

Applications

Where Mo4P3 is used.

CatalysisElectrocatalysisMaterials research
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Mo4P3, answered from cross-validated data.

What is Mo4P3?

Mo4P3 is a metallic molybdenum phosphide that is considered a promising candidate for catalytic applications due to its favorable thermodynamic stability.

More questions
What is Mo4P3 used for?
Mo4P3 is used in catalysis, electrocatalysis, and materials research.
What is the band gap of Mo4P3?
The reported DFT structures of Mo4P3 show no band gap. Standard DFT often misses gaps (especially in transition-metal oxides), so this is not proof the real material is a metal.
Is Mo4P3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT calculations predict no band gap. Standard DFT can miss gaps, so measurements are needed to confirm metallic behavior.
Is Mo4P3 thermodynamically stable?
Mo4P3 has a lowest energy above hull of 0.014 eV/atom (near hull).
What is the crystal structure of Mo4P3?
The reference structure of Mo4P3 is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma (No. 62).
What is the density of Mo4P3?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of Mo4P3 is 7.78 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of Mo4P3 are known?
20 structures of Mo4P3 are reported across 5 databases, spanning 10 distinct space groups.
What elements does Mo4P3 contain?
Mo4P3 contains Mo and P (2 elements).
Where does the data for Mo4P3 come from?
Mo4P3 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, oqmd, mpaloe, cod, aflow.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the transition-metal phosphide catalysts class.

Within the diverse class of transition-metal phosphides, Mo4P3 occupies a distinct niche compared to more widely studied counterparts like Ni2P or FeP. While many phosphides in this group are explored for their specific magnetic or electrochemical properties, Mo4P3 stands out due to its specific stoichiometry and metallic character, offering a different pathway for catalytic activity compared to the more common nickel- or iron-based phosphides.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Transition-Metal Phosphide Catalysts in the database.

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)
  • mpaloe — Data from MP-ALOE. Cite: Kuner et al., npj Comput. Mater. (2025), doi:10.1038/s41524-025-01834-9.
  • cod — Data from the Crystallography Open Database (crystallography.net/cod/). Cite: Grazulis et al., J. Appl. Cryst. 42, 726 (2009). (CC0-1.0)
  • aflow — Data from AFLOW (aflow.org). Cite: Curtarolo et al., Comp. Mater. Sci. 58, 218 (2012). (CC-BY-4.0)

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