SnSe2
tin diselenide · tin(IV) selenide
Tin diselenide is a stable semiconducting material composed of tin and selenium that is primarily utilized in advanced electronic and optoelectronic research.
About tin diselenide
Tin diselenide is a thermodynamically stable compound that crystallizes in a layered structure typical of transition metal dichalcogenides. Its semiconducting nature makes it a subject of significant interest for next-generation electronic devices and thin-film technologies.
Due to its high structural diversity and stability, this material is widely investigated for its potential in light-harvesting and sensing applications. It remains a foundational material for researchers exploring the physics of two-dimensional semiconductors.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for tin diselenide, aggregated across 3 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 SnSe2, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| P-3m1 (No. 164) | trigonal | 0.70 | 0.0000 | -18.214 | 5.54 |
| P-1 (No. 2) | Triclinic | — | — | — | 9.65 |
| C2/m (No. 12) | Monoclinic | — | — | — | 6.56 |
| C2/m (No. 12) | Monoclinic | — | — | — | 5.02 |
| C2 (No. 5) | Monoclinic | — | — | — | 7.78 |
| P-3m1 (No. 164) | Trigonal | — | — | — | 5.12 |
| P-3m1 (No. 164) | Trigonal | — | — | — | 5.39 |
| P-3m1 (No. 164) | Trigonal | — | — | — | 5.27 |
| C2/m (No. 12) | Monoclinic | — | — | — | 6.03 |
| Amm2 (No. 38) | Orthorhombic | — | — | — | 4.51 |
| Amm2 (No. 38) | Orthorhombic | — | — | — | 5.80 |
| P1 (No. 1) | Triclinic | — | — | — | 4.52 |
Applications
Where tin diselenide is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about tin diselenide, answered from cross-validated data.
What is SnSe2?
Tin diselenide is a stable semiconducting material composed of tin and selenium that is primarily utilized in advanced electronic and optoelectronic research.
What is SnSe2 used for?
What is the band gap of SnSe2?
Is SnSe2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is SnSe2 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of SnSe2?
What is the density of SnSe2?
How many polymorphs of SnSe2 are known?
What elements does SnSe2 contain?
Where does the data for SnSe2 come from?
How It Compares
As a prominent member of the metal dichalcogenide family, tin diselenide is valued for its robust stability and predictable electronic behavior, which distinguishes it from more volatile or less chemically stable members of the broader chalcogenide class.
Data sources & attribution
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
- mpaloe — Data from mpaloe.
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