ThO2

Thorium dioxide · Thoria

Thorium dioxide is a highly stable, heat-resistant ceramic oxide used primarily in nuclear fuel and advanced industrial applications.

OTh
Crystal structure of ThO2
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Thorium dioxide

Thorium dioxide is a robust, thermodynamically stable ceramic material characterized by its insulating electronic nature. Due to its exceptional thermal resilience and chemical inertness, it remains a cornerstone in high-temperature applications and specialized industrial processes.

As a highly studied oxide, this compound is recognized for its structural reliability and consistent performance under extreme conditions. Its status as a stable phase on the convex hull underscores its utility in demanding environments where material degradation must be strictly minimized.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Thorium dioxide, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

3.52–4.42 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

On hull (stable)
2 DFT sources

Structures

46
3 databases, 12 space groups
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting ThO2.

Solid State
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Uses

Applications

Where Thorium dioxide is used.

Nuclear fuel pelletsGas mantlesHigh-temperature ceramicsCatalysisCrucibles
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Thorium dioxide, answered from cross-validated data.

What is ThO2?

Thorium dioxide is a highly stable, heat-resistant ceramic oxide used primarily in nuclear fuel and advanced industrial applications.

More questions
What is ThO2 used for?
Thorium dioxide (ThO2) is used in nuclear fuel pellets, gas mantles, high-temperature ceramics, catalysis, and crucibles.
What is the band gap of ThO2?
Thorium dioxide (ThO2) has a DFT-computed band gap of 3.52–4.42 eV across 46 reported structures.
Is ThO2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a wide band gap up to 4.42 eV it is an insulator / wide-band-gap material.
Is ThO2 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — Thorium dioxide (ThO2) sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. on hull (stable).
How many polymorphs of ThO2 are known?
46 structures of ThO2 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 12 distinct space groups.
How is ThO2 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for ThO2 include solid state.
What elements does ThO2 contain?
Thorium dioxide (ThO2) contains O and Th (2 elements).
Where does the data for ThO2 come from?
ThO2 data is cross-referenced from latticegraph.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a primary oxide of thorium, this material serves as a benchmark for stability and performance within its chemical class, offering superior thermal characteristics that make it a standard reference for high-temperature insulating oxides.

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

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