ScSi

ScSi is a thermodynamically stable, metallic intermetallic compound composed of scandium and silicon that is primarily investigated for its potential in advanced anode technologies.

Crystal structure of ScSi (orthorhombic, Cmcm (No. 63))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About ScSi

ScSi is a metallic intermetallic compound that stands out for its thermodynamic stability within the silicon-based material landscape. By occupying a position on the convex hull, it represents a robust phase that maintains structural integrity, making it a subject of significant interest for researchers investigating new electrode architectures.

Its metallic nature distinguishes it from traditional semiconductor-based silicon anodes, offering unique electronic pathways for charge transport. As a highly studied phase with extensive structural data available, it serves as a foundational material for understanding the complex interactions between transition metals and silicon in energy storage environments.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Stable
3 DFT sources

Structures

195
4 databases, 24 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of ScSi. 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, oqmd

Space Group Consensus

All match
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for ScSi, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Cmcm (No. 63)orthorhombic0.000.0000-0.817—
——0.000.0000-0.838—
Cmcm (No. 63)orthorhombic0.000.0000-10.9453.34
——0.000.3111-0.527—
——0.000.3998-0.438—
——0.000.4298-0.408—
P-6m2 (No. 187)hexagonal0.000.4545-0.363—
——0.000.4628-0.375—
——0.000.4742-0.364—
F-43m (No. 216)cubic0.001.24670.429—
——0.001.32830.490—
F-43m (No. 216)cubic0.001.3287-9.6162.06
Uses

Applications

Where ScSi is used.

Silicon anode researchIntermetallic materials scienceElectrode material development
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is ScSi?

ScSi is a thermodynamically stable, metallic intermetallic compound composed of scandium and silicon that is primarily investigated for its potential in advanced anode technologies.

More questions
What is ScSi used for?
ScSi is used in silicon anode research, intermetallic materials science, and electrode material development.
What is the band gap of ScSi?
The reported DFT structures of ScSi show no band gap. Standard DFT often misses gaps (especially in transition-metal oxides), so this is not proof the real material is a metal.
Is ScSi a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT calculations predict no band gap. Standard DFT can miss gaps, so measurements are needed to confirm metallic behavior.
Is ScSi thermodynamically stable?
Yes — ScSi sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. stable.
What is the crystal structure of ScSi?
The reference structure of ScSi is orthorhombic symmetry, space group Cmcm (No. 63).
How many polymorphs of ScSi are known?
195 structures of ScSi are reported across 4 databases, spanning 24 distinct space groups.
What elements does ScSi contain?
ScSi contains Sc and Si (2 elements).
Where does the data for ScSi come from?
ScSi data is cross-referenced from jarvis, oqmd, materials_project, mpaloe.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the silicon anode materials class.

Unlike the semiconducting or insulating nature of many silicon-based materials like Si or Mg2Si, ScSi provides a metallic character that can be advantageous for electrical conductivity in anode applications. While compounds such as MoSi2 or BaSi2 are often explored for their specific structural or optical properties, ScSi is notable for its thermodynamic stability, positioning it as a reliable candidate compared to more volatile or metastable silicides.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Silicon Anode Materials in the database.

Data sources & attribution
  • jarvis — Data from JARVIS (jarvis.nist.gov), NIST. Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020). (LicenseRef-US-Gov-PD)
  • oqmd — Data from the OQMD (oqmd.org). Cite: Saal et al., JOM 65, 1501 (2013); Kirklin et al., npj Comp. Mater. 1, 15010 (2015). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project (materialsproject.org). Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • mpaloe — Data from MP-ALOE. Cite: Kuner et al., npj Comput. Mater. (2025), doi:10.1038/s41524-025-01834-9.

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