Nitride Materials: Synthesis, Crystal Structures, and Optical Properties

Our research involves the preparation of transition metal nitrides of the composition Mn4N, NbN, Mo2N, TaN and ZrN. The synthesis of Li3N binary alkali metal nitride was also part of this work. Simple and cost-effective methods with relatively low impact on the environment have been privileged in the selection. The experimental work has focused on determining the optimum conditions of synthesis and the convenient high yield route to the desired nitrides, and ultimately improvement of the properties of the final materials. All samples were characterised by X-ray powder diffraction. Their structures will be discussed in more detail here. Optical band gap has been calculated from diffuse reflectance measurements. The air sensitivity of the nitrides was also probed.