Wurtzite crystal structure

The wurtzite structure is a hexagonal crystal arrangement in which two interpenetrating sublattices form tetrahedrally coordinated sites. It occurs in compounds such as zinc sulfide and cadmium sulfide.

Hexagonal close packing: A dense arrangement of equal spheres in layers stacked in an ABAB sequence. The wurtzite lattice can be viewed as alternating species occupying tetrahedral sites in this packing.
ABAB stacking: A layer sequence in which every third close-packed layer lies directly above the first. This repeating layer sequence produces the hexagonal framework associated with wurtzite.
Zinc blende structure: A cubic crystal arrangement with tetrahedrally coordinated atoms and an ABCABC close-packed layer sequence. It shares local coordination with wurtzite but differs in its stacking sequence and crystal symmetry.
Gallium nitride: A semiconductor compound commonly crystallizing in the wurtzite structure. Its wurtzite phase enables the band structure used in blue and ultraviolet optoelectronics.
Wurtzite: A mineral form of zinc sulfide with a hexagonal crystal structure. The structure takes its name from this natural zinc sulfide mineral.
Tetrahedral coordination: An arrangement in which one atom or ion has four nearest neighbors at the corners of a tetrahedron. Each atom in the ideal wurtzite structure has four nearest neighbors of the other species.
Space group P6₃mc: A hexagonal space group with a sixfold screw axis and vertical mirror planes. It is the standard symmetry group of the ideal wurtzite structure.
Rock salt structure: A cubic ionic structure in which each ion has six nearest neighbors of opposite charge. Its octahedral coordination contrasts with wurtzite's tetrahedral coordination.
Zinc oxide: An inorganic compound that commonly crystallizes in the wurtzite structure. Its polar wurtzite crystals support piezoelectric, optical, and sensing applications.
Aluminum nitride: A ceramic semiconductor that typically crystallizes in the wurtzite structure. It exemplifies the structure in a compound valued for thermal conductivity.

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Silver iodideRelated: The hexagonal AgI form resembles ice’s arrangement closely enough to aid nucleation.