Electrides are materials in which the electrons detach from the valence shell of ions and reside in the crystal structure, acting as anions. Because these anionic electrons are not bound to a nucleus, they are easier to migrate and extract compared to electrons in conventional materials, leading to relatively low work functions and high conductivities. These properties are desirable for several important technological applications to which it is expected that electrides can be successfully applied. For example electron emitters, light emitting diodes (LED) devices. nonlinear optical switchers, superconductors, and catalysts, for e.g. the synthesis of ammonia, are all areas of active investigation for electrides.