Chemically Stable Low-Dimensional Electrides in Transition Metal-Rich Monochalcogenides: Theoretical and Experimental Explorations

Abstract

Electrides, which are ionic crystals composed of excess anionic electrons, are of great interest as an exotic material for fundamental research and practical applications in broad fields of science and technology. However, an inherent chemical instability under ambient conditions at room temperature has been a fatal drawback to be addressed. Here, we report that transition metal-rich monochalcogenides are an emerging class of low-dimensional electrides with excellent chemical and thermal stability in air and water at room temperature through a comprehensive exploration of theoretical prediction and experimental verification. We predict new two-dimensional (2D) electrides crystallized in hexagonal P3̅m1 and P6₃/mmc structures with strong localization of anionic electrons in a dumbbell shape at the tetrahedral cavity of the interlayer space, which are distinct from the anionic electrons localized at the octahedral cavity in the hexagonal R3̅m structure of the previous 2D [Ca₂N]⁺·e^- and [Y₂C]²⁺·2e^- electrides. We successfully synthesized the room-temperature stable [Ti₂O]²⁺·2e^-, [Ti₂S]²⁺·2e^-, [Zr₂S]²⁺·2e^-, and primary solid solution [Hf₂S_xSe_1-x]²⁺·2e^- electrides, showing no structural degradation in air and water. Among them, we found that the synthesized [Ti₂S]²⁺·2e^- and [Zr₂S]²⁺·2e^- electrides are crystallized in orthorhombic symmetry (Pnnm), showing the feature of a one-dimensional (1D) electride with an anionic electron chain, which has never been reported yet. In addition to the successful finding of new 1D and 2D electrides, we discuss the self-passivation effect-driven chemical stability and the role of anionic electrons in determining the physical properties of the newly discovered electrides.