Se2Zn2
Zinc selenide · ZnSe
Zinc selenide is a stable semiconducting compound widely used in infrared optics and optoelectronic technologies.
About Zinc selenide
Zinc selenide is a prominent II-VI semiconductor known for its robust thermodynamic stability and favorable electronic properties. As a member of the chalcogenide family, it serves as a critical material for applications requiring precise control over light-matter interactions.
Its structural versatility is highlighted by extensive experimental data, confirming its reliability in demanding environments. This compound is widely utilized in the manufacturing of optical components and advanced sensors where performance and material integrity are paramount.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Zinc selenide, aggregated across 5 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.
Reported Structures
Lowest-energy structures reported for Se2Zn2, ranked by energy above hull.
| Space GroupSymmetry classification of the crystal arrangement. The number is the international space-group index. | Crystal SystemBroad lattice family, such as cubic, tetragonal, monoclinic, or triclinic, derived from unit-cell symmetry. | Band Gap (eV)Electronic gap calculated for this specific reported structure, measured in electronvolts. | E above hull (eV/atom)Thermodynamic distance from the convex hull for this structure, normalized per atom. Lower is generally more stable. | E/atom (eV)Computed total energy normalized per atom. Use energy above hull, not this value alone, when comparing stability. | Density (g/cm³)Mass per relaxed crystal volume, reported in grams per cubic centimeter. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| F-43m (No. 216) | cubic | 1.17 | 0.0000 | -3.329 | 5.27 |
| P63mc (No. 186) | hexagonal | 1.20 | 0.0040 | -3.325 | 5.27 |
| P4/nmm (No. 129) | tetragonal | 1.97 | 0.1600 | -3.169 | 4.68 |
| F-43m (No. 216) | — | 1.25 | — | — | — |
| P4/nmm (No. 129) | — | — | — | — | — |
| R-3m (No. 166) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P63mc (No. 186) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fd-3m (No. 227) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Imma (No. 74) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P4/nmm (No. 129) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P63/mmc (No. 194) | — | — | — | — | — |
| P63mc (No. 186) | — | — | — | — | — |
Applications
Where Zinc selenide is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Zinc selenide, answered from cross-validated data.
What is Se2Zn2?
Zinc selenide is a stable semiconducting compound widely used in infrared optics and optoelectronic technologies.
What is Se2Zn2 used for?
What is the band gap of Se2Zn2?
Is Se2Zn2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is Se2Zn2 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of Se2Zn2?
What is the density of Se2Zn2?
How many polymorphs of Se2Zn2 are known?
What elements does Se2Zn2 contain?
Where does the data for Se2Zn2 come from?
How It Compares
Within the ii-vi semiconductors class.
Within the class of II-VI semiconductors, Se2Zn2 stands out as a highly stable and well-characterized counterpart to materials like ZnS and CdSe. While it shares the fundamental semiconducting nature of its siblings, its specific combination of zinc and selenium provides a distinct balance of optical transparency and electronic performance that makes it a preferred choice over cadmium-based alternatives like CdTe or CdS in specific industrial applications.
Related Compounds
Other II-VI Semiconductors in the database.
Data sources & attribution
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
- nomad — Data from NOMAD. Cite: Draxl & Scheffler, J. Phys. Mater. 2, 036001 (2019).
- aflow — Data from AFLOW. Cite: Curtarolo et al., Comp. Mater. Sci. 58, 218 (2012).
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