Te

Tellurium · element 52

Tellurium is a rare, thermodynamically stable semiconducting element known for its structural complexity and essential role in modern electronics.

Te
Crystal structure of Te
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Tellurium

Tellurium is a rare, brittle metalloid element that occupies a distinct position in the periodic table. As a thermodynamically stable substance, it maintains a robust structural integrity that has made it a subject of extensive investigation across multiple materials databases.

Its semiconducting nature allows it to play a vital role in specialized electronic and optoelectronic components. The element exhibits a rich variety of structural configurations, reflecting its complex bonding behavior and utility in high-performance technological applications.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Tellurium, aggregated across 5 databases.

Band Gap

0.19–0.56 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
3 DFT sources

Structures

53
5 databases, 13 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of Te. 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, nomad

Space Group Consensus

All match
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting Te.

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
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Sol Gel
Procedure available · ceder_sol_gel
Uses

Applications

Where Tellurium is used.

Phase-change memory devicesInfrared optical materialsThermoelectric generatorsSolar cell alloysRubber vulcanization
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

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

What is Te?

Tellurium is a rare, thermodynamically stable semiconducting element known for its structural complexity and essential role in modern electronics.

More questions
What is Te used for?
Tellurium (Te) is used in phase-change memory devices, infrared optical materials, thermoelectric generators, solar cell alloys, and rubber vulcanization.
What is the band gap of Te?
Tellurium (Te) has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.19–0.56 eV across 53 reported structures.
Is Te a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 0.56 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Te thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Tellurium (Te) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of Te are known?
53 structures of Te are reported across 5 databases, spanning 13 distinct space groups.
How is Te synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for Te include solid state, sol gel (10 procedures documented).
What elements does Te contain?
Tellurium (Te) contains Te (1 element).
Where does the data for Te come from?
Te data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a pure elemental semiconductor, Tellurium serves as a foundational building block for various chalcogenide alloys and complex electronic materials, acting as a critical component in the development of advanced phase-change memory and infrared detection technologies.

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

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