Zn2Mo3O8

Zn2Mo3O8 is a metastable, semiconducting molybdenum-zinc oxide used in research for its potential as a specialized catalyst.

Crystal structure of Zn2Mo3O8 (hexagonal, P63mc (No. 186))
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About Zn2Mo3O8

Zn2Mo3O8 is a semiconducting oxide that belongs to the broader family of spinel-related structures. Its electronic character and specific coordination environment make it a subject of interest for researchers investigating complex transition metal oxides with unique catalytic potential. Although it is classified as a metastable phase, its structural characteristics allow for diverse configurations within the molybdenum-zinc-oxygen system. This material is primarily studied for its role in specialized catalytic applications where its semiconducting behavior can be leveraged to facilitate surface-mediated chemical transformations. Its existence across multiple reported structures highlights its structural flexibility and the ongoing interest in its potential for advanced materials engineering.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for Zn2Mo3O8, aggregated across 4 databases.

Band Gap

0.09–1.03 eV
Range across DFT structures

Energy Above Hull

0.088 eV/atom
Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Metastable
2 DFT sources

Structures

10
4 databases, 2 space groups
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for Zn2Mo3O8, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
P63mc (No. 186)hexagonal0.090.0880-7.6045.55
C2/m (No. 12)monoclinic1.030.0881-7.6045.47
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic5.47
P63mc (No. 186)Hexagonal5.55
P63mc (No. 186)Hexagonal6.35
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic6.24
P63mc (No. 186)Hexagonal5.85
C2/m (No. 12)
C2/m (No. 12)Monoclinic5.78
P63mc (No. 186)hexagonal6.34
Uses

Applications

Where Zn2Mo3O8 is used.

Catalytic researchMaterials science studiesAdvanced chemical synthesis
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Zn2Mo3O8, answered from cross-validated data.

What is Zn2Mo3O8?

Zn2Mo3O8 is a metastable, semiconducting molybdenum-zinc oxide used in research for its potential as a specialized catalyst.

More questions
What is Zn2Mo3O8 used for?
Zn2Mo3O8 is used in catalytic research, materials science studies, and advanced chemical synthesis.
What is the band gap of Zn2Mo3O8?
Zn2Mo3O8 has a DFT-computed band gap of 0.09–1.03 eV across 10 reported structures.
Is Zn2Mo3O8 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
With a band gap up to 1.03 eV it is a semiconductor.
Is Zn2Mo3O8 thermodynamically stable?
Zn2Mo3O8 has a lowest energy above hull of 0.088 eV/atom (metastable).
What is the crystal structure of Zn2Mo3O8?
The lowest-energy reported polymorph of Zn2Mo3O8 is hexagonal symmetry, space group P63mc (No. 186).
What is the density of Zn2Mo3O8?
The computed density of the ground-state structure of Zn2Mo3O8 is 5.55 g/cm³.
How many polymorphs of Zn2Mo3O8 are known?
10 structures of Zn2Mo3O8 are reported across 4 databases, spanning 2 distinct space groups.
What elements does Zn2Mo3O8 contain?
Zn2Mo3O8 contains Mo, O, and Zn (3 elements).
Where does the data for Zn2Mo3O8 come from?
Zn2Mo3O8 data is cross-referenced from materials_project, mpaloe, jarvis, cod.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the spinel oxide catalysts class.

Within the diverse group of spinel and related oxide catalysts, Zn2Mo3O8 stands out as a more complex, multi-metal system compared to simpler binary oxides like ZnO or NiO. Unlike the highly stable and widely utilized MgAl2O4 spinel, which serves as a standard structural reference, Zn2Mo3O8 exhibits a metastable nature that requires careful synthesis control. It occupies a distinct niche compared to the perovskite-structured members of the class, such as LaMnO3 or LaAlO3, by offering a different metal-oxygen framework that influences its semiconducting properties and catalytic activity.

Explore

Related Compounds

Other Spinel Oxide Catalysts in the database.

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).
  • cod — Data from the Crystallography Open Database. Cite: Grazulis et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 40, D420 (2012).

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