Rubidium selenide

Rubidium selenide is an inorganic compound composed of selenium and rubidium. It is a selenide with a chemical formula of Rb₂Se. Rubidium selenide is used together with caesium selenide in photovoltaic cells.^[5]

Rubidium selenide

Rb+: __ Se2-: __
Names
IUPAC name Rubidium selenide
Identifiers
CAS Number	31052-43-4 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	148024
ECHA InfoCard	100.045.847
EC Number	250-447-2
PubChem CID	169243
CompTox Dashboard (EPA)	DTXSID10953154
InChI InChI=1S/2Rb.Se/q2*+1;-2 Key: FQJOSIUDOWCYLV-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES [Se-2].[Rb+].[Rb+]
Properties
Chemical formula	Rb2Se
Molar mass	249.89
Appearance	colourless, highly hygroscopic crystals[1]
Density	2.912 g/cm3[2] 3.16 g/cm3[3]
Melting point	733 °C[2]
Solubility in water	hydrolyses[4]
Solubility in other solvents	soluble in ethanol and glycerin
Structure
Crystal structure	cubic: antifluorite structure
Hazards
Occupational safety and health (OHS/OSH):
Main hazards	toxic
GHS labelling:
Pictograms
Hazard statements	H301, H331, H373, H410
Related compounds
Other anions	rubidium oxide, rubidium sulfide, rubidium telluride, rubidium polonide
Other cations	lithium selenide, sodium selenide, caesium selenide, francium selenide
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). Infobox references

Preparation

Rubidium selenide can be prepared by reacting mercury selenide and metallic rubidium.^[6] The elements can be synthesized in liquid ammonia.^[7]

Hydrogen selenide can also be dissolved in an aqueous solution of rubidium hydroxide to eventually form rubidium selenide.^[8] This method is similar to the method for preparing rubidium sulfide, because they are both chalcogenide compounds.

RbOH + H₂Se → RbHSe + H₂O

RbHSe + RbOH → Rb₂Se + H₂O

Crystal structure

Rubidium selenide has cubic crystal structure, which belongs to the antifluorite structure, and the space group is ${\displaystyle Fm{\bar {3}}m}$ and the lattice parameters are a=801.0 pm, per unit. The unit cell has 4 units.^[1]