Copper(II) selenide

Copper(II) selenide
Names
IUPAC name
Copper(II) selenide
Other names
Cupric selenide
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.013.885
EC Number
  • 215-272-8
UNII
  • InChI=1S/Cu.Se
    Key: IRPLSAGFWHCJIQ-UHFFFAOYSA-N
  • [Cu].[Se]
Properties[1]
CuSe
Molar mass 142.517 g·mol−1
Appearance Black
Density 5.99 g/cm3
Melting point 550 °C (1,022 °F; 823 K) (decomposes)
Hazards
GHS labelling:[2]
Danger
H301, H331, H373, H410
P260, P264, P270, P271, P273, P301+P316, P304+P340, P316, P319, P321, P330, P391, P403+P233, P405, P501
Related compounds
Other anions
Other cations
Related compounds
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
Infobox references

Copper(II) selenide is an inorganic binary compound between copper and selenium, with the chemical formula CuSe.

Properties

Copper(II) selenide is soluble in hydrochloric acid and sulfuric acid, evolving hydrogen selenide and sulfur dioxide respectively.[1] It is oxidized to copper(II) selenite by nitric acid.[1]

Occurrence

Copper selenides are the most common selenium minerals. CuSe is known in mineralogy as klockmannite.[3]

Structure

Copper(II) selenide exhibits polymorphism. α-CuSe (klockmannite) is generally regarded as having a similar structure to CuS (covellite), but the precise structure could not be determined from powder diffraction data.[4] γ-CuSe is stable above 393 K (120 °C; 248 °F) and is also hexagonal with similar unit cell dimensions (a = 3.984 Å, c = 17.288 Å at 430 K (157 °C; 314 °F)).[4] The diffraction pattern is very similar to that of α-CuSe.[4]

Uses

Copper(II) selenide is produced in situ to form a protective black coating on iron or steel parts in some cold-bluing processes.[5] Bluing solutions that operate in this manner will typically be labeled as containing selenous acid or selenium dioxide.[6][7] It has also been investigated for use in the treatment of colon cancer.[8]

Other copper selenides have been characterized including Cu1.8Se (non-stoichiometric), Cu3Se2, CuSe2 (low pressure modification), and CuSe2II (high pressure modification).[4] A copper iron selenide (CuFeSe2) has also been characterized.[9]

References

  1. ^ a b c Perry, Dale L. (2016-04-19). Handbook of Inorganic Compounds. CRC Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-4398-1462-8.
  2. ^ PubChem. "Copper selenide (CuSe)". pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
  3. ^ Berry, L. G. (1954). "The crystal structure of covellite, cuse and klockmannite, cuse". American Mineralogist. 39 (5–6): 504–509.
  4. ^ a b c d Heyding, Robert Donald; Murray, Ritchie MacLaren (1976-03-15). "The crystal structures of Cu1•8Se, Cu3Se2, α- and γCuSe, CuSe2, and CuSe2II". Canadian Journal of Chemistry. 54 (6): 841–848. doi:10.1139/v76-122. ISSN 0008-4042. Retrieved 2026-02-21.
  5. ^ "Room Temperature Black Oxide". Archived from the original on 28 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Insta-Blak 333 MSDS" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 April 2016. Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Oxpho-Blue MSDS" (PDF). Retrieved 12 April 2016.
  8. ^ Hessel, Colin M.; Pattani, Varun P.; Rasch, Michael; Panthani, Matthew G.; Koo, Bonil; Tunnell, James W.; Korgel, Brian A. (2011-05-10). "Copper Selenide Nanocrystals for Photothermal Therapy". Nano Letters. 11 (6): 2560–2566. Bibcode:2011NanoL..11.2560H. doi:10.1021/nl201400z. PMC 3111000. PMID 21553924.
  9. ^ Delgado, J. M.; de Delgado, G. Diaz; Quintero, M.; Woolley, J. C. (1992-03-01). "The crystal structure of copper iron selenide, CuFeSe2". Materials Research Bulletin. 27 (3): 367–373. doi:10.1016/0025-5408(92)90066-9. ISSN 0025-5408.