NpO

NpO is a metallic neptunium oxide that serves as a complex subject for research into actinide material stability and electronic behavior.

NpO
Crystal structure of NpO
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About NpO

NpO is a binary neptunium oxide characterized by its metallic electronic nature. As a compound containing an actinide element, it represents an intriguing subject for fundamental studies in heavy-element chemistry and solid-state physics. Due to its complex electronic structure, it remains a significant focus for researchers investigating the behavior of f-electron systems.

This material is noted for its structural diversity, with numerous reported configurations across various databases. While it is currently understood to be thermodynamically unstable relative to other phases, its existence in multiple structural forms provides valuable insights into the bonding and phase stability of actinide-based materials.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for NpO, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

0.157 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Above hull
2 DFT sources

Structures

33
4 databases, 10 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

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

Agreement Score

1.00 / 1.00
Trust tier: medium

Hull Spread

0.000 eV
EAH spread across sources

Sources Compared

2
jarvis, materials_project

Space Group Consensus

All match
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting NpO.

Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Uses

Applications

Where NpO is used.

Fundamental actinide researchSolid-state physics studiesNuclear materials science
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is NpO?

NpO is a metallic neptunium oxide that serves as a complex subject for research into actinide material stability and electronic behavior.

More questions
What is NpO used for?
NpO is used in fundamental actinide research, solid-state physics studies, and nuclear materials science.
What is the band gap of NpO?
NpO is computed to be metallic (no band gap) in the reported DFT structures.
Is NpO a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Computed band structures report no gap, so it is metallic.
Is NpO thermodynamically stable?
NpO has a lowest energy above hull of 0.157 eV/atom (above hull).
How many polymorphs of NpO are known?
33 structures of NpO are reported across 4 databases, spanning 10 distinct space groups.
How is NpO synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for NpO include solid state (2 procedures documented).
What elements does NpO contain?
NpO contains Np and O (2 elements).
Where does the data for NpO come from?
NpO data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a unique actinide binary, NpO serves as a critical reference point for understanding the metallic nature of neptunium oxides. It occupies a distinct space in the study of actinide compounds, where its structural complexity and electronic properties highlight the challenges of predicting phase stability in heavy-element systems.

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

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