ZnCo2O4
zinc cobaltite · zinc cobalt oxide
ZnCo2O4 is a metallic spinel oxide utilized as a catalyst for oxygen-evolution reactions in electrochemical energy applications.
About zinc cobaltite
ZnCo2O4 is a spinel-structured oxide that functions as a metallic conductor, making it a subject of interest for electrocatalytic applications. Its unique electronic configuration allows for efficient charge transfer, which is essential for facilitating complex surface reactions in electrochemical environments.
This material is primarily investigated for its role in oxygen-evolution reactions, where its structural stability and catalytic activity are leveraged to improve the efficiency of energy conversion devices. By providing active surface sites, it serves as a critical component in the development of sustainable energy storage and conversion technologies.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for zinc cobaltite, aggregated across 1 database.
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 ZnCo2O4, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pnma (No. 62) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cmcm (No. 63) | — | — | — | — | — |
| C2/m (No. 12) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fd-3m (No. 227) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fd-3m (No. 227) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Imma (No. 74) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Fd-3m (No. 227) | — | — | — | — | — |
Synthesis Routes
Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting ZnCo2O4.
Applications
Where zinc cobaltite is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about zinc cobaltite, answered from cross-validated data.
What is ZnCo2O4?
ZnCo2O4 is a metallic spinel oxide utilized as a catalyst for oxygen-evolution reactions in electrochemical energy applications.
What is ZnCo2O4 used for?
What is the band gap of ZnCo2O4?
Is ZnCo2O4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
What is the crystal structure of ZnCo2O4?
How many polymorphs of ZnCo2O4 are known?
How is ZnCo2O4 synthesized?
What elements does ZnCo2O4 contain?
Where does the data for ZnCo2O4 come from?
How It Compares
Within the oxide oxygen-evolution catalysts class.
Within the broad class of oxygen-evolution catalysts, ZnCo2O4 stands out for its spinel architecture compared to the layered structures of materials like LiCoO2 or LiNiO2. While perovskite-based catalysts such as LaMnO3 are widely studied for their flexible stoichiometry, ZnCo2O4 offers a distinct alternative that balances metallic conductivity with the specific coordination environments inherent to the spinel lattice.
Related Compounds
Other Oxide Oxygen-Evolution Catalysts in the database.
Data sources & attribution
- jarvis — Data from JARVIS (NIST). Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020).
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