SnS

tin monosulfide · herzenbergite

SnS is a stable, semiconducting tin sulfide compound widely studied for its potential in optoelectronics and sustainable energy technologies.

SSn
Crystal structure of SnS
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About tin monosulfide

SnS is a binary chalcogenide that exists as a thermodynamically stable phase on the convex hull. Its semiconducting electronic character makes it a subject of significant interest for researchers investigating sustainable and earth-abundant materials for energy conversion technologies.

With a vast number of reported structures across various databases, this compound is highly data-rich and well-characterized. Its structural versatility and favorable electronic properties position it as a promising candidate for thin-film applications where performance and material availability are critical.

At a glance

Key Properties

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

Band Gap

0.09–1.67 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

131
4 databases, 22 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting SnS.

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

Applications

Where tin monosulfide is used.

photovoltaic cellsthin-film solar cellsoptoelectronic devicesphotodetectors
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about tin monosulfide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is SnS?

SnS is a stable, semiconducting tin sulfide compound widely studied for its potential in optoelectronics and sustainable energy technologies.

More questions
What is SnS used for?
tin monosulfide (SnS) is used in photovoltaic cells, thin-film solar cells, optoelectronic devices, and photodetectors.
What is the band gap of SnS?
tin monosulfide (SnS) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.09–1.67 eV across 131 reported structures.
Is SnS a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.67 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is SnS thermodynamically stable?
Yes — tin monosulfide (SnS) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of SnS are known?
131 structures of SnS are reported across 4 databases, spanning 22 distinct space groups.
How is SnS synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for SnS include solid state, sol gel (10 procedures documented).
What elements does SnS contain?
tin monosulfide (SnS) contains S and Sn (2 elements).
Where does the data for SnS come from?
SnS data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a standalone material of interest, SnS represents a fundamental building block in the study of group 14-16 semiconductors. Its stability and well-documented structural landscape provide a reliable baseline for developing advanced electronic components compared to more complex or less stable chalcogenide systems.

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

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