MoI2

Molybdenum diiodide is a thermodynamically stable semiconducting compound composed of molybdenum and iodine.

IMo
Crystal structure of MoI2 (orthorhombic, Cmce (No. 64))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About MoI2

Molybdenum diiodide is a semiconducting inorganic compound that maintains thermodynamic stability on the convex hull. Its structural versatility is highlighted by a significant number of reported configurations across major materials databases, reflecting its complex bonding nature.

As a member of the transition metal halide family, this compound is of interest for fundamental studies into electronic behavior and structural polymorphism. Its stability makes it a compelling candidate for further exploration in materials science research.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for MoI2, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

0.08–1.85 eV
Range across DFT structures · ground state: narrow gap

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Stable
3 DFT sources

Structures

32
3 databases, 7 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of MoI2. Tight agreement means computed properties can be trusted without re-running calculations.

Agreement Score

0.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: low

Hull Spread

0.482 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

3
jarvis, materials_project, oqmd

Space Group Consensus

Mixed (most: Cmce (No. 64))
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for MoI2, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Cmce (No. 64)orthorhombic1.930.0000-5.2745.17
——1.850.0000-0.500—
Pmmm (No. 47)orthorhombic0.080.48160.482—
——0.000.71870.219—
——0.000.96340.463—
——0.002.41031.910—
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———4.16
P1 (No. 1)triclinic———7.80
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———4.66
P1 (No. 1)triclinic———5.46
P-1 (No. 2)triclinic———5.64
P1 (No. 1)triclinic———5.56
Uses

Applications

Where MoI2 is used.

Fundamental materials researchSolid-state chemistry studiesPrecursor for thin-film deposition
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about MoI2, answered from cross-validated data.

What is MoI2?

Molybdenum diiodide is a thermodynamically stable semiconducting compound composed of molybdenum and iodine.

More questions
What is MoI2 used for?
MoI2 is used in fundamental materials research, solid-state chemistry studies, and precursor for thin-film deposition.
What is the band gap of MoI2?
MoI2 has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.08–1.85 eV across 32 reported structures. Standard DFT underestimates band gaps, so the measured gap is typically larger.
Is MoI2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT predicts a band gap of up to 1.85 eV (a semiconductor). Measured gaps are typically larger.
Is MoI2 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — MoI2 sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. stable.
What is the crystal structure of MoI2?
The reference structure of MoI2 is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Cmce (No. 64).
What is the density of MoI2?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of MoI2 is 5.17 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of MoI2 are known?
32 structures of MoI2 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 7 distinct space groups.
What elements does MoI2 contain?
MoI2 contains I and Mo (2 elements).
Where does the data for MoI2 come from?
MoI2 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, oqmd, jarvis, mpaloe, cod.
Reading

Related Research

Comparison

How It Compares

As a distinct transition metal halide, MoI2 occupies a unique position in materials research due to its confirmed thermodynamic stability. Unlike many less stable halides that require specific synthesis conditions, this compound represents a robust structural archetype within its chemical class.

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.
  • cod — Data from the Crystallography Open Database (crystallography.net/cod/). Cite: Grazulis et al., J. Appl. Cryst. 42, 726 (2009). (CC0-1.0)

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