Re

Rhenium

Rhenium is a rare and exceptionally heat-resistant transition metal used primarily to improve the performance of high-temperature alloys.

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

About Rhenium

Rhenium is a dense, silvery-white transition metal that occupies a unique position in the periodic table due to its extreme refractory nature and metallic character. It is a thermodynamically stable element that maintains structural integrity under intense conditions, making it a critical component in advanced metallurgical applications. Its inherent stability and high resistance to heat allow it to serve as a foundational material in demanding industrial environments. Because of its scarcity and specialized properties, it is highly valued in sectors requiring materials that can withstand extreme thermal stress without degradation. The extensive documentation of its various structural forms underscores its significance as a well-characterized element in materials science.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Rhenium, aggregated across 5 databases.

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
3 DFT sources

Structures

24
5 databases, 5 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of Re. 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, nomad

Space Group Consensus

All match
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Re.

Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Uses

Applications

Where Rhenium is used.

Jet engine turbine bladesHigh-temperature superalloysCatalysts for petroleum refiningElectrical contact materialsFilaments for mass spectrographs
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Re?

Rhenium is a rare and exceptionally heat-resistant transition metal used primarily to improve the performance of high-temperature alloys.

More questions
What is Re used for?
Rhenium (Re) is used in jet engine turbine blades, high-temperature superalloys, catalysts for petroleum refining, electrical contact materials, and filaments for mass spectrographs.
What is the band gap of Re?
Rhenium (Re) is computed to be metallic (no band gap) in the reported DFT structures.
Is Re a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Computed band structures report no gap, so it is metallic.
Is Re thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Rhenium (Re) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of Re are known?
24 structures of Re are reported across 5 databases, spanning 5 distinct space groups.
How is Re synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Re include sol gel (10 procedures documented).
What elements does Re contain?
Rhenium (Re) contains Re (1 element).
Where does the data for Re come from?
Re data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a singular transition metal, Rhenium stands as a benchmark for refractory performance, serving as a primary alloying element that enhances the creep resistance and high-temperature durability of nickel-based superalloys in a way few other elements can match.

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

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