YI3

Yttrium triiodide is a thermodynamically stable, insulating rare-earth halide used in specialized chemical applications.

IY
Crystal structure of YI3 (trigonal, R-3 (No. 148))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About YI3

Yttrium triiodide is a stable inorganic compound characterized by its insulating electronic nature. As a member of the rare-earth halide family, it exhibits significant structural diversity, with numerous documented configurations across major material databases. Its thermodynamic stability on the convex hull underscores its robustness as a crystalline material. This compound is primarily utilized in specialized chemical synthesis and as a precursor for advanced material development where high-purity yttrium sources are required. Its wide-band-gap profile makes it an interesting subject for studies involving optical and electronic insulation properties in solid-state chemistry.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for YI3, aggregated across 3 databases.

Band Gap

0.70–3.37 eV
Range across DFT structures · ground state: wide gap

Energy Above Hull

0.000 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Stable
3 DFT sources

Structures

57
3 databases, 11 space groups
Validation

Cross-Source DFT Agreement

How well independent DFT databases agree on the thermodynamics of YI3. 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, oqmd

Space Group Consensus

All match
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for YI3, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
——3.230.0000-1.564—
R-3 (No. 148)trigonal3.040.0000-4.4814.30
R-3 (No. 148)trigonal2.680.0000-1.473—
——2.920.0009-1.563—
——2.010.0330-1.531—
——2.330.0527-1.511—
——2.500.0568-1.507—
——2.670.0580-1.506—
——2.010.0677-1.496—
——2.590.0804-1.483—
——1.730.0891-1.475—
——3.370.2331-1.331—
Uses

Applications

Where YI3 is used.

Chemical synthesis precursorRare-earth material researchSolid-state chemistry studies
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about YI3, answered from cross-validated data.

What is YI3?

Yttrium triiodide is a thermodynamically stable, insulating rare-earth halide used in specialized chemical applications.

More questions
What is YI3 used for?
YI3 is used in chemical synthesis precursor, rare-earth material research, and solid-state chemistry studies.
What is the band gap of YI3?
YI3 has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.70–3.37 eV across 57 reported structures. Standard DFT underestimates band gaps, so the measured gap is typically larger.
Is YI3 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
DFT predicts a wide band gap of up to 3.37 eV (an insulator or wide-band-gap material).
Is YI3 thermodynamically stable?
Yes — YI3 sits on the convex hull (energy above hull 0 eV/atom), i.e. stable.
What is the crystal structure of YI3?
The reference structure of YI3 is trigonal symmetry, space group R-3 (No. 148).
What is the density of YI3?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of YI3 is 4.30 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of YI3 are known?
57 structures of YI3 are reported across 3 databases, spanning 11 distinct space groups.
What elements does YI3 contain?
YI3 contains I and Y (2 elements).
Where does the data for YI3 come from?
YI3 data is cross-referenced from oqmd, materials_project, jarvis, mpaloe.
Comparison

How It Compares

As a distinct rare-earth triiodide, YI3 serves as a fundamental reference point for understanding the structural and electronic trends within the broader class of lanthanide and yttrium-based halides. Its position on the convex hull highlights its stability relative to other halide systems, providing a reliable baseline for researchers investigating the synthesis and reactivity of metal-iodide frameworks.

Data sources & attribution
  • oqmd — Data from the OQMD (oqmd.org). Cite: Saal et al., JOM 65, 1501 (2013); Kirklin et al., npj Comp. Mater. 1, 15010 (2015). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • materials_project — Data from the Materials Project (materialsproject.org). Cite: Jain et al., APL Materials 1, 011002 (2013). (CC-BY-4.0)
  • jarvis — Data from JARVIS (jarvis.nist.gov), NIST. Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020). (LicenseRef-US-Gov-PD)
  • mpaloe — Data from MP-ALOE. Cite: Kuner et al., npj Comput. Mater. (2025), doi:10.1038/s41524-025-01834-9.

Analyze YI3 in the Lattice Graph platform

Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 85 source databases.

Explore the Platform →
Results are informational and should be validated by qualified professionals. See Terms of Service