PbO2

lead dioxide · lead(IV) oxide, plattnerite

Lead dioxide is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound primarily used as the active material in the positive electrodes of lead-acid batteries.

OPb
Crystal structure of PbO2
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About lead dioxide

Lead dioxide is a thermodynamically stable oxide that exhibits semiconducting electronic behavior. Its robust structural integrity is evidenced by the extensive number of reported crystal structures, making it a highly characterized material in inorganic chemistry. The compound is widely recognized for its high oxidation state and its critical role in electrochemical systems. It serves as the primary active material on the positive plates of lead-acid batteries, facilitating the chemical reactions necessary for energy storage and discharge. Its ability to undergo reversible redox processes underpins its enduring utility in industrial power applications.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

0.04–0.70 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

169
4 databases, 31 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting PbO2.

Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Uses

Applications

Where lead dioxide is used.

lead-acid batterieselectrochemical sensorsoxidizing agents in chemical synthesispyrotechnics
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

1 patent reference PbO2 or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
3959453Method for manufacture of single crystals .beta.-PbO.sub.2 and slender single crystals of .beta.-PbO.sub.2 pro
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about lead dioxide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is PbO2?

Lead dioxide is a stable, semiconducting inorganic compound primarily used as the active material in the positive electrodes of lead-acid batteries.

More questions
What is PbO2 used for?
lead dioxide (PbO2) is used in lead-acid batteries, electrochemical sensors, oxidizing agents in chemical synthesis, and pyrotechnics.
What is the band gap of PbO2?
lead dioxide (PbO2) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.04–0.70 eV across 169 reported structures.
Is PbO2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 0.70 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is PbO2 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — lead dioxide (PbO2) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of PbO2 are known?
169 structures of PbO2 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 31 distinct space groups.
How is PbO2 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for PbO2 include sol gel, solid state (8 procedures documented).
What elements does PbO2 contain?
lead dioxide (PbO2) contains O and Pb (2 elements).
Where does the data for PbO2 come from?
PbO2 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a prominent and well-studied oxide, lead dioxide stands as a foundational material in its category, serving as the benchmark for high-performance electrochemical storage applications due to its exceptional structural stability and reliable semiconducting characteristics.

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

Analyze PbO2 in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 53 integrated data sources.

Explore the Platform →