Direct solvothermal synthesis of early transition metal nitrides

Solvothermal reactions of TaCl5 with LiNH2 in benzene result in nanocrystalline Ta3N5 at 500 or 550 degrees C. The approximately 25 nm Ta3N5 particles have a band gap of 2.08-2.10 eV. The same reactions in mesitylene resulted in a higher crystallization temperature and large amounts of carbon incorporation due to solvent decomposition. Reactions of Ta(NMe2)5 with LiNH2 under the same conditions resulted in TaN. Rocksalt-type MN phases are obtained for Zr, Hf, or Nb when their chlorides (ZrCl4, HfCl4, or NbCl5) or dialkylamides (M(NEtMe)4, M = Zr, Hf) are reacted with LiNH2 under similar conditions. With the amides, there is some evidence for nitrogen-rich compositions (HfN >1), and carbon is incorporated into the products through pyrolysis of the dialkylamide groups.