What Are The Properties Of Aluminium Selenide?
Aluminium selenide (Al2Se3) is a chemical compound composed of aluminium and selenium. Here are some of its properties:
1. Physical Properties:
- Aluminium selenide appears as a dark gray solid.
- It has a melting point of around 1,100°C and a boiling point of around 1,500°C.
- Its density is around 4.24 g/cm³.
2. Chemical Properties:
- Aluminium selenide is a semiconductor material with a bandgap energy of approximately 2.7 eV.
- It is insoluble in water but soluble in acids, like hydrochloric acid and nitric acid.
- When heated in air, it reacts to form aluminium oxide and selenium dioxide.
3. Optical Properties:
- Aluminium selenide exhibits interesting optical properties, such as nonlinear optical behavior and luminescence.
- It can be used as an optical material for infrared windows and lenses.
4. Electrical Properties:
- Aluminium selenide is a p-type semiconductor, meaning that it has a positive charge carrier concentration.
- It can be used as a photocathode material due to its relatively low electron affinity.
Overall, aluminium selenide has various interesting physical, chemical, and optical properties, which make it useful for various applications in materials science and engineering.