Sc₂C, a 2D Semiconducting Electride

Electrides are exotic materials that typically have electrons present in well-defined lattice sites rather than within atoms. Although all known electrides have an electropositive metal cation adjacent to the electride site, the effect of cation electronegativity on the properties of electrides is not yet known. Here, we examine trivalent metal carbides with varying degrees of electronegativity and experimentally synthesize Sc₂C. Our studies identify the material as a two-dimensional (2D) electride, even though Sc is more electronegative than any metal previously found adjacent to an electride site. Further, by exploring Sc₂C and Al₂C computationally, we find that higher electronegativity of the cation drives greater hybridization between metal and electride orbitals, which opens a band gap in these materials. Sc₂C is the first 2D electride semiconductor, and we propose a design rule that cation electronegativity drives the change in its band structure.