If suppose, I crystallised a quarternary ammonium electride could this conduct electricity similar to a metallic conductor? Metals have lattice atoms as charged metal ions are a sea of electrons. This leads me to believe a quartnernary ammonium electrides are quite similar, with lattice points being quartnernary ammonium ions and a sea of electrons.
Is this true? Can I consider quarternary ammonium electrides as metallic conductors?
Answer
You can't conclude that by thinking alone; some experiments are necessary.
True, an electron in an electride is kinda "free", in that it isn't connected to any particular atom. But that doesn't mean it can roam the entire structure, free as the wind. In fact, it sits in a potential well formed by the neighboring ions and molecules, only the well is so wide and shallow that it looks more like a puddle. To decide the conductivity question, you want to know how one puddle relates to the others, and the answer may be any of the following:
- connected to form a continuous sea, much like in a metal;
- connected to form a network of channels;
- isolated but still close enough for electrons to tunnel between them;
- isolated and spaced wide apart.
All in all, theoretically an electride can be anything from a metallic conductor to an insulator, depending on its composition and structure.
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