ZnFe2O4

zinc ferrite · franklinite

Zinc ferrite is a metallic spinel oxide used as a catalyst for oxygen-evolution reactions in electrochemical applications.

Crystal structure of ZnFe2O4
Ground-state structure · Materials Project
Overview

About zinc ferrite

Zinc ferrite is a spinel-structured oxide that functions as a metallic catalyst in electrochemical processes. Its electronic configuration allows for significant interaction with charge carriers, making it a subject of interest for efficient oxygen-evolution reactions in energy conversion systems.

As a versatile transition metal oxide, this compound is studied for its potential to facilitate chemical transformations at the electrode interface. Its ability to maintain structural integrity while participating in catalytic cycles positions it as a relevant material for sustainable energy technologies.

At a glance

Key Properties

Cross-validated computational properties for zinc ferrite, aggregated across 1 database.

Band Gap

Metallic / not reported

Energy Above Hull

Best (lowest) across sources

Stability

Not assessed
1 DFT source

Structures

6
1 database, 4 space groups
Crystallography

Reported Structures

Lowest-energy structures reported for ZnFe2O4, ranked by energy above hull.

Space GroupCrystal SystemBand Gap (eV)E above hull (eV/atom)E/atom (eV)Density (g/cm³)
Imma (No. 74)
Fd-3m (No. 227)
Cmcm (No. 63)
Fd-3m (No. 227)
Fd-3m (No. 227)
R3m (No. 160)
Synthesis

Synthesis Routes

Literature-extracted synthesis procedures targeting ZnFe2O4.

Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Sol-Gel
Procedure available · ceder_solid_state
Uses

Applications

Where zinc ferrite is used.

Oxygen-evolution catalystsElectrochemical sensorsPhotocatalytic water splitting
Reference

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about zinc ferrite, answered from cross-validated data.

What is ZnFe2O4?

Zinc ferrite is a metallic spinel oxide used as a catalyst for oxygen-evolution reactions in electrochemical applications.

More questions
What is ZnFe2O4 used for?
zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) is used in oxygen-evolution catalysts, electrochemical sensors, and photocatalytic water splitting.
What is the band gap of ZnFe2O4?
zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) is computed to be metallic (no band gap) in the reported DFT structures.
Is ZnFe2O4 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Computed band structures report no gap, so it is metallic.
What is the crystal structure of ZnFe2O4?
The lowest-energy reported polymorph of zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) is of symmetry, space group Imma (No. 74).
How many polymorphs of ZnFe2O4 are known?
6 structures of ZnFe2O4 are reported across 1 database, spanning 4 distinct space groups.
How is ZnFe2O4 synthesized?
Literature-reported routes for ZnFe2O4 include sol-gel (10 procedures documented).
What elements does ZnFe2O4 contain?
zinc ferrite (ZnFe2O4) contains Fe, O, and Zn (3 elements).
Where does the data for ZnFe2O4 come from?
ZnFe2O4 data is cross-referenced from jarvis.
Comparison

How It Compares

Within the oxide oxygen-evolution catalysts class.

Within the diverse class of oxygen-evolution catalysts, ZnFe2O4 acts as a metallic alternative to the more commonly studied layered oxides like LiCoO2 or LiNiO2. Unlike the lithium-based intercalation materials that dominate battery research, zinc ferrite offers a distinct electronic pathway that complements the behavior of perovskite-type catalysts such as LaMnO3 or LaNiO3.

Explore

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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