The electride nature of dense sodium in the transparent hP4 phase, where valence electrons are interstitially localised, lacks experimental confirmation. Here, the authors use single-crystal X-ray diffraction and quantum crystallographic atomic form factors to provide experimental indication of interstitial electron localisation in hP4-Na at 223 GPa, advancing our understanding of high density electrides.
- Christian V. Storm
- Stefano Racioppi
- Malcolm I. McMahon