Projekt

Electrides are, per definition, the lightest, most reactive, and thus extremely unexplored form of chemical electricity. Ever since the first reports of isolated electrides in 1986, only a handful of derivatives were reported. Due to their high reactivity, electrides are only stable at very low temperatures for a limited amount of time. The aim of this proposal is an explorative synthetic approach towards new electrides - a class of compounds that contain 'free' electrons replacing the usual anions. The generation of solvated electrons can be achieved either by the disproportionation of alkali metals or by a straightforward electrolysis in liquid ammonia or other amines. The challenge of the synthesis of electrides, that are stable at ambient conditions, is finding an appropriate cation and solvent that do not undergo reductive decomposition reactions. The authors propose an investigation of a series of sterically shielded, electron-rich phosphonium cations based on Schwesinger superbases. The resulting electrides, if accessible, hold the potential to revolutionize energy storage technology and to open up new paths in chemistry and physics.

• Dr. Günther Thiele

  Freie Universität Berlin
  Fachbereich Biologie, Chemie, Pharmazie
  Institut für Chemie und Biochemie
  Anorganische Chemie
  Berlin
  

• Large Exchange Bias, High Dielectric Constant, and Outstanding Ionic Conductivity in a Single-Phase Spin Glass