pnictide

Pnictide is a chemical compound that contains a pnictogen, an element of group 15 of the periodic table, in combination with another element. The category covers nitrides, phosphides, arsenides, antimonides, and bismuthides. Pnictides may feature ionic, covalent, or metallic bonding and can form a wide range of crystal structures, from ceramics to intermetallics.

Common pnictide classes include nitrides (for example gallium nitride GaN and boron nitride BN); phosphides (for example iron phosphide FeP, gallium phosphide GaP); arsenides (for example gallium arsenide GaAs and indium arsenide InAs); antimonides (for example gallium antimonide GaSb); and bismuthides (less common, but found in some intermetallics). Their properties span wide band gaps, high hardness, good thermal stability, and, in some compounds, semiconducting or metallic conductivity.

In modern materials science the term pnictide is often encountered in the context of pnictide superconductors, a family of iron‑arsenide and iron‑phosphide compounds that exhibit high critical temperatures under certain conditions. Beyond superconductivity, pnictides are important in electronics and optoelectronics, especially nitrides and arsenides used in LEDs, laser diodes, and high‑speed devices, as well as solids used in thermoelectrics and catalysts.

Safety and handling: Many pnictogens, especially arsenic‑containing compounds, are toxic and require appropriate precautions during synthesis and handling.

See also: Pnictogen, Group 15 elements, Pnictide superconductors.