PbO
lead(II) oxide · litharge, massicot
Lead(II) oxide is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound widely used as a precursor in battery technology and glass manufacturing.
About lead(II) oxide
Lead(II) oxide is a thermodynamically stable inorganic compound that exists in multiple structural forms, most notably litharge and massicot. Its semiconducting electronic character makes it a significant subject of study in solid-state chemistry, supported by an extensive catalog of reported structures across various databases.
This compound serves as a fundamental precursor in the production of lead-acid batteries and various glass and ceramic formulations. Its stability and predictable chemical behavior allow it to function as a versatile building block for synthesizing more complex lead-based materials used in industrial manufacturing.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for lead(II) oxide, aggregated across 4 databases.
Band GapEnergy needed to move an electron from the valence band to the conduction band. Lower or zero values tend to behave more metallic; larger gaps are more insulating or semiconducting.
Energy Above HullThermodynamic distance from the most stable set of competing phases. 0 eV/atom is on the convex hull; small positive values may still be experimentally accessible.
StabilityA plain-language summary of the best reported energy-above-hull result. It reflects whether the lowest-energy structure is on, near, or far from the stability hull.
StructuresCount of reported calculated crystal structures for this formula, including alternate polymorphs, source databases, and observed space groups.
Synthesis Routes
Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting PbO.
Applications
Where lead(II) oxide is used.
Patent Landscape
2 patents reference PbO or close compositional variants.
| Patent | Title | Assignee | Granted |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7785561 | Recovery of high purity PbO | — | — |
| 5651952 | Process for the production of litharge (PbO) | — | — |
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about lead(II) oxide, answered from cross-validated data.
What is PbO?
Lead(II) oxide is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound widely used as a precursor in battery technology and glass manufacturing.
What is PbO used for?
What is the band gap of PbO?
Is PbO a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is PbO thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of PbO are known?
How is PbO synthesized?
What elements does PbO contain?
Where does the data for PbO come from?
How It Compares
As a highly studied and thermodynamically stable oxide, lead(II) oxide serves as a primary reference point for lead-based inorganic chemistry, defining the baseline for structural and electronic transitions within its class.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
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