NaSe

NaSe is a thermodynamically stable semiconducting compound formed from sodium and selenium that exhibits significant structural diversity.

NaSe
Crystal structure of NaSe (cubic, Fm-3m (No. 225))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About NaSe

NaSe is a binary inorganic compound composed of sodium and selenium. As a thermodynamically stable phase located on the convex hull, it represents a robust configuration of these elements that maintains structural integrity under standard conditions. Its semiconducting electronic character makes it an intriguing subject for fundamental studies in solid-state physics and materials design. The compound is characterized by a high degree of structural complexity, evidenced by the extensive number of reported configurations across various crystallographic databases. This structural richness suggests a versatile bonding environment that warrants further investigation for potential electronic or optoelectronic utility.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for NaSe, aggregated across 6 databases.

Band Gap

0.07–0.56 eV
Range across DFT structures · ground state: narrow gap

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Stable
4 DFT sources

Structures

99
6 databases, 17 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

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

Agreement Score

1.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: high

Hull Spread

0.000 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 NaSe, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
——0.560.0000-0.889—
P63/mmc (No. 194)hexagonal0.490.0000-9.9383.36
P63/mmc (No. 194)hexagonal0.490.0000-0.903—
Cm (No. 8)monoclinic0.070.0089-0.894—
——0.000.1686-0.720—
——0.000.2427-0.646—
——0.000.2777-0.611—
——0.000.2957-0.593—
P4/nmm (No. 129)tetragonal0.000.3662-0.537—
Fm-3m (No. 225)cubic0.000.3747-0.528—
Fm-3m (No. 225)cubic0.000.4078-9.5303.16
——0.000.4267-0.462—
Uses

Applications

Where NaSe is used.

Fundamental solid-state researchMaterials science characterizationSemiconductor physics studies
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is NaSe?

NaSe is a thermodynamically stable semiconducting compound formed from sodium and selenium that exhibits significant structural diversity.

More questions
What is NaSe used for?
NaSe is used in fundamental solid-state research, materials science characterization, and semiconductor physics studies.
What is the band gap of NaSe?
NaSe has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.07–0.56 eV across 99 reported structures. Standard DFT underestimates band gaps, so the measured gap is typically larger.
Is NaSe a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT predicts a band gap of up to 0.56 eV (a semiconductor). Measured gaps are typically larger.
Is NaSe thermodynamically stable?
Yes — NaSe sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. stable.
What is the crystal structure of NaSe?
The reference structure of NaSe is cubic symmetry, space group Fm-3m (No. 225).
How many polymorphs of NaSe are known?
99 structures of NaSe are reported across 6 databases, spanning 17 distinct space groups.
What elements does NaSe contain?
NaSe contains Na and Se (2 elements).
Where does the data for NaSe come from?
NaSe data is cross-referenced from oqmd, materials_project, jarvis, mpaloe.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a unique binary phase, NaSe serves as a foundational example of sodium-chalcogenide chemistry. Without direct structural siblings in this specific class, it stands as a primary reference point for understanding the interplay between alkali metals and selenium in forming stable, semiconducting architectures.

Data sources & attribution
  • 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)
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project (materialsproject.org). Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013). (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.

Analyze NaSe in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 85 source databases.

Explore the Platform →
Results are informational and should be validated by qualified professionals. See Terms of Service