Th3P4
Th3P4 is a thermodynamically stable thorium phosphide that functions as a semiconductor.

About Th3P4
Th3P4 is a distinct thorium-based phosphide that exhibits semiconducting electronic behavior. As a thermodynamically stable phase located on the convex hull, it represents a robust structural arrangement of thorium and phosphorus atoms that is well-supported by computational data across multiple databases.
This material is of significant interest in materials science due to its stable nature and unique electronic properties. Its existence across several reported structural configurations highlights its versatility and potential utility in specialized applications requiring stable inorganic semiconductors.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for Th3P4, 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 Th3P4, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| I-43d (No. 220) | cubic | 0.26 | 0.0000 | -38.247 | 8.35 |
| I-43d (No. 220) | Cubic | — | — | — | 8.43 |
| I-43d (No. 220) | Cubic | — | — | — | 8.27 |
| I-43d (No. 220) | Cubic | — | — | — | 8.35 |
| I-43d (No. 220) | — | — | — | — | — |
Applications
Where Th3P4 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about Th3P4, answered from cross-validated data.
What is Th3P4?
Th3P4 is a thermodynamically stable thorium phosphide that functions as a semiconductor.
What is Th3P4 used for?
What is the band gap of Th3P4?
Is Th3P4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is Th3P4 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of Th3P4?
What is the density of Th3P4?
How many polymorphs of Th3P4 are known?
What elements does Th3P4 contain?
Where does the data for Th3P4 come from?
How It Compares
As a stable binary phosphide, Th3P4 serves as a foundational example of thorium-based semiconducting compounds. It occupies a critical position in the landscape of actinide-containing materials, providing a benchmark for stability and electronic performance within this specialized chemical family.
Data sources & attribution
- materials_project — Data from the Materials Project. Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013).
- mpaloe — Data from mpaloe.
- jarvis — Data from JARVIS (NIST). Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020).
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