MoCl3

molybdenum trichloride · molybdenum(III) chloride

Molybdenum trichloride is a metastable, semiconducting compound composed of molybdenum and chlorine used in specialized chemical synthesis.

ClMo
Crystal structure of MoCl3
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About molybdenum trichloride

Molybdenum trichloride is a semiconducting inorganic compound that exists in a metastable state. Its unique electronic configuration makes it a subject of significant interest for researchers investigating the behavior of transition metal halides under various synthetic conditions.

Due to its structural complexity, this compound has been extensively cataloged across multiple databases. It serves as a critical building block in the synthesis of more complex molybdenum-based materials and provides insights into the coordination chemistry of molybdenum in its trivalent state.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

0.15–1.20 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.034 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Metastable
2 DFT sources

Structures

112
3 databases, 20 space groups
Uses

Applications

Where molybdenum trichloride is used.

Chemical vapor transport agentPrecursor for molybdenum-based catalystsSolid-state synthesis reagent
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about molybdenum trichloride, answered from cross-validated data.

What is MoCl3?

Molybdenum trichloride is a metastable, semiconducting compound composed of molybdenum and chlorine used in specialized chemical synthesis.

More questions
What is MoCl3 used for?
molybdenum trichloride (MoCl3) is used in chemical vapor transport agent, precursor for molybdenum-based catalysts, and solid-state synthesis reagent.
What is the band gap of MoCl3?
molybdenum trichloride (MoCl3) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.15–1.20 eV across 112 reported structures.
Is MoCl3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.20 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is MoCl3 thermodynamically stable?
molybdenum trichloride (MoCl3) has a lowest energy above hull of 0.034 eV/atom (metastable).
How many polymorphs of MoCl3 are known?
112 structures of MoCl3 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 20 distinct space groups.
What elements does MoCl3 contain?
molybdenum trichloride (MoCl3) contains Cl and Mo (2 elements).
Where does the data for MoCl3 come from?
MoCl3 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a standalone transition metal halide in this context, molybdenum trichloride represents a fundamental example of metastable semiconducting behavior, serving as a benchmark for understanding how metal-halogen bonding influences electronic properties in the absence of more complex structural motifs.

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

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