Ultralow work function of the electride Sr3CrN3

Cuicui Wang, Miaoting Xu, Keith T. Butler, Lee A. Burton

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Electrides have valence electrons that occupy free space in the crystal structure, making them easier to extract. This feature can be used in catalysis for important reactions that usually require a high-temperature and high-pressure environments, such as ammonia synthesis. In this paper, we use density functional theory to investigate the behaviour of interstitial electrons of the 1-dimensional electride Sr3CrN3. We find that the bulk excess electron density persists on introduction of surface terminations, that the crystal termination perpendicular to the 1D free-electron channel is highly stable and we confirm an extremely low work function with hybrid functional methods. Our results indicate that Sr3CrN3 is a potentially important novel catalyst, with accessible, directional and extractable free electron density.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)8854-8858
Number of pages5
JournalPhysical Chemistry Chemical Physics
Volume24
Issue number15
DOIs
StatePublished - 31 Mar 2022
Externally publishedYes

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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