Corundum (structure)


Corundum is the name for a structure prototype in inorganic solids, derived from the namesake polymorph of aluminum oxide. Other compounds, especially among the inorganic solids, exist in corundum structure, either in ambient or other conditions. Corundum structures are associated with metal-insulator transition, ferroelectricity, polar magnetism, and magnetoelectric effects.

Structure

The corundum structure has the space group [hexagonal crystal family|]. It typically exists in binary compounds of the type A2B3, where A is metallic and B is nonmetallic, including sesquioxides, sesquisulfides, etc. When A is nonmetallic and B is metallic, the structure becomes the antiphase of corundum, called the anticorundum structure type, with examples including β-Ca3N2 and borates. Ternary and multinary compounds can also exists in the corundum structure. The corundum-like structure with the composition A2BB'O6 is called double corundum. A list of examples are tabulated below.
Chemical formulaAlternative nameMaterial typeReference
Al2O3α-Al2O3 or corundumOxide
V2O3Oxide
Cr2O3α-Cr2O3Oxide
Fe2O3α-Fe2O3 or hematiteOxide
Ga2O3α-Ga2O3Oxide
In2O3rh-In2O3Oxide
Ti2O3α-Ti2O3Oxide
Mn2O3ε-Mn2O3Oxide
Rh2O3Oxide
Ir2O3α-Ir2O3Oxide
Tl2O3Oxide
Ca3N2β-Ca3N2Nitride
In2S3ε-In2S3Sulfide
Tm2S3E-Tm2S3 or ε-Tm2S3Sulfide
Yb2S3E-Yb2S3 or ε-Yb2S3Sulfide
Lu2S3E-Lu2S3 or ε-Lu2S3Sulfide
Cr23Carbodiimide
Yb23Carbodiimide
Ca32Borate
Sr32Borate
Eu32Borate
ScFeO3Ferrite
GaFeO3Ferrite
InFeO3Ferrite
CrTiO3Titanate
NiCrO3Chromite
InVO3Vanadate
Ni3TeO6Double oxide
Ni2InSbO6Double oxide
Ni2ScSbO6Double oxide
Mn2FeMoO6Double oxide
Mn2FeWO6Double oxide
Co4Ta2O9Triple oxide