ja6b10114_si_001.pdf (1.9 MB)
Experimental Demonstration of an Electride as a 2D Material
journal contribution
posted on 2016-11-16, 00:00 authored by Daniel
L. Druffel, Kaci L. Kuntz, Adam H. Woomer, Francis M. Alcorn, Jun Hu, Carrie L. Donley, Scott C. WarrenBecause of their loosely bound electrons,
electrides offer physical
properties useful in chemical synthesis and electronics. For these
applications and others, nanosized electrides offer advantages, but
to-date no electride has been synthesized as a nanomaterial. We demonstrate
experimentally that Ca2N, a layered electride in which
layers of atoms are separated by layers of a 2D electron gas (2DEG),
can be exfoliated into two-dimensional (2D) nanosheets using liquid
exfoliation. The 2D flakes are stable in a nitrogen atmosphere or
in select organic solvents for at least one month. Electron microscopy
and elemental analysis reveal that the 2D flakes retain the crystal
structure and stoichiometry of the parent 3D Ca2N. In addition,
the 2D flakes exhibit metallic character and an optical response that
agrees with DFT calculations. Together these findings suggest that
the 2DEG is preserved in the 2D material. With this work, we bring
electrides into the nanoregime and experimentally demonstrate a 2D
electride, Ca2N.