ZnSn2O5
ZnSn2O5 is a metastable, semiconducting ternary oxide utilized in research for its potential as a specialized catalyst.

About ZnSn2O5
ZnSn2O5 is a complex oxide belonging to the spinel-related family of materials. As a semiconducting compound, it exhibits unique electronic properties that make it a subject of interest for researchers investigating charge transport and surface reactivity in oxide systems. Although it is classified as a metastable phase, its structural diversity is evidenced by multiple reported configurations found in materials databases.
This compound plays a specialized role within the broader category of spinel oxide catalysts. Its potential utility is primarily focused on catalytic processes where the specific arrangement of zinc, tin, and oxygen atoms can facilitate chemical transformations. By leveraging its semiconducting nature, scientists aim to utilize this material in applications requiring efficient electron exchange or surface-mediated reactions.
Key Properties
Cross-validated computational properties for ZnSn2O5, 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.
Reported Structures
Lowest-energy structures reported for ZnSn2O5, 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. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cmcm (No. 63) | orthorhombic | 0.85 | 0.0635 | -6.217 | 5.81 |
| P1 (No. 1) | triclinic | 0.00 | 0.2721 | -6.009 | 5.37 |
| Cmcm (No. 63) | — | — | — | — | — |
| Cmcm (No. 63) | Orthorhombic | — | — | — | 5.81 |
| Cmcm (No. 63) | Orthorhombic | — | — | — | 6.30 |
| Cmcm (No. 63) | Orthorhombic | — | — | — | 6.04 |
| P-1 (No. 2) | — | — | — | — | — |
Applications
Where ZnSn2O5 is used.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about ZnSn2O5, answered from cross-validated data.
What is ZnSn2O5?
ZnSn2O5 is a metastable, semiconducting ternary oxide utilized in research for its potential as a specialized catalyst.
What is ZnSn2O5 used for?
What is the band gap of ZnSn2O5?
Is ZnSn2O5 a metal, semiconductor, or insulator?
Is ZnSn2O5 thermodynamically stable?
What is the crystal structure of ZnSn2O5?
What is the density of ZnSn2O5?
How many polymorphs of ZnSn2O5 are known?
What elements does ZnSn2O5 contain?
Where does the data for ZnSn2O5 come from?
How It Compares
Within the spinel oxide catalysts class.
Unlike the highly stable and widely utilized MgAl2O4, which serves as a standard structural archetype for the spinel class, ZnSn2O5 exists in a metastable state that presents distinct challenges and opportunities for synthesis. While simple binary oxides like ZnO or NiO are often studied for their well-defined electronic behavior, ZnSn2O5 offers a more complex ternary framework that can be tuned for specific catalytic environments, distinguishing it from the more traditional perovskite-structured oxides like LaAlO3.
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).
- jarvis — Data from JARVIS (NIST). Cite: Choudhary et al., npj Comp. Mater. 6, 173 (2020).
- mpaloe — Data from mpaloe.
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