SO2

Sulfur dioxide · Sulfurous anhydride

Sulfur dioxide is a stable, semiconducting oxide of sulfur that is widely recognized for its industrial utility and presence in atmospheric processes.

OS
Crystal structure of SO2
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Sulfur dioxide

Sulfur dioxide is a thermodynamically stable oxide that occupies a prominent position on the convex hull, reflecting its robust chemical nature. As a semiconducting compound, it plays a critical role in atmospheric chemistry and various industrial synthesis pathways.

With extensive structural data available across multiple databases, this compound is highly characterized. Its unique electronic configuration makes it a vital subject of study for understanding sulfur-based inorganic materials and their reactivity in diverse environments.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Sulfur dioxide, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

2.84 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

56
3 databases, 17 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting SO2.

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 Sulfur dioxide is used.

Food preservationChemical synthesisBleaching agentRefrigerantWine production
Intellectual Property

Patent Landscape

96 patents reference SO2 or close compositional variants.

PatentTitleAssigneeGranted
11710849SO2-based electrolyte for a rechargeable battery cell, and rechargeable battery cells
6117403Barrier discharge conversion of Hg, SO.sub.2 and NOx
4428921Process for recovery of sulfur from SO.sub.2 -containing gas
6027704Process for the reduction of SO.sub.2 from wet lime/limestone tailgas in power plant desulfurization processes
7132093Mesoporous mixed oxide materials as a new class of SO2 resistant catalysts for hydrocarbon oxidation
6132692Barrier discharge conversion of SO.sub.2 and NOx to acids
6500402Catalyst for oxidizing SO2 to SO3 and utilization of the catalyst in a method for producing sulfuric acid
10307741Shaped catalyst body for the catalytic oxidation of SO2 into SO3
5186914Process for removing NO.sub.x and SO.sub.2 utilizing activated carbon
12017180Improving sulfur recovery operations with processes based on novel CO2 over SO2 selective membranes and its co
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is SO2?

Sulfur dioxide is a stable, semiconducting oxide of sulfur that is widely recognized for its industrial utility and presence in atmospheric processes.

More questions
What is SO2 used for?
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) is used in food preservation, chemical synthesis, bleaching agent, refrigerant, and wine production.
What is the band gap of SO2?
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) has a DFT-computed band gap of 2.84 eV across 56 reported structures.
Is SO2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 2.84 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is SO2 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Sulfur dioxide (SO2) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of SO2 are known?
56 structures of SO2 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 17 distinct space groups.
How is SO2 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for SO2 include sol gel, solid state (10 procedures documented).
What elements does SO2 contain?
Sulfur dioxide (SO2) contains O and S (2 elements).
Where does the data for SO2 come from?
SO2 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a fundamental inorganic oxide, sulfur dioxide serves as a primary reference point for sulfur-based compounds. Its thermodynamic stability and well-documented structural landscape establish it as a cornerstone for evaluating the behavior of similar chalcogen-based materials.

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

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