7. Glossary

Clathrates

Typically crystalline solid compounds consisting of an "included" molecule enclosed in a cage formed by one or more "host" molecules.

Skuttlerudites

Family of crystalline minerals consisting mainly of cobalt arsenide (CoAs ₃ ), nickel (Ni) and traces of other chemical elements (Pb, S, Fe...).

Energy bands

Result from modeling the energy values that electrons in a solid (or polymer chain) can take up within it. Electrons can take on energy values within certain ranges (valence band, conduction band), which are separated by forbidden energy ranges (gap or forbidden band).

Ionization potential or ionization energy

Energy required from a neutral, isolated atom in...