YbC2
YbC2 is a thermodynamically stable semiconducting ytterbium carbide used in fundamental materials research.

About YbC2
YbC2 is a binary carbide composed of ytterbium and carbon. As a thermodynamically stable phase located on the convex hull, it represents a robust crystalline arrangement that maintains structural integrity under standard conditions. Its electronic character is defined as semiconducting, distinguishing it from metallic or insulating alternatives within the broader family of rare-earth carbides.
This compound is of significant interest in materials science due to its structural versatility, as evidenced by the numerous reported configurations across multiple databases. Its ability to adopt different structural motifs makes it a compelling subject for studies regarding phase stability and electronic behavior in lanthanide-based carbon systems.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for YbC2, 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.
Applications
Where YbC2 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about YbC2, answered from cross-validated data.
What is YbC2?
YbC2 is a thermodynamically stable semiconducting ytterbium carbide used in fundamental materials research.
What is YbC2 used for?
What is the band gap of YbC2?
Is YbC2 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is YbC2 thermodynamically stable?
How many polymorphs of YbC2 are known?
What elements does YbC2 contain?
Where does the data for YbC2 come from?
How It Compares
As a stable semiconducting carbide, YbC2 occupies a unique niche in the landscape of rare-earth dicarbides. While many members of this class exhibit metallic behavior, the semiconducting nature of this compound offers distinct pathways for specialized electronic applications where traditional metallic carbides may be less suitable.
Data sources & attribution
- latticegraph — Lattice Graph Materials Intelligence Platform
Analyze YbC2 in the Lattice Graph platform
Polymorph comparison, confidence scoring, supply-chain risk, and patent monitoring — across 53 integrated data sources.
Explore the Platform →