PRODUCTION OF LITHIUM NITRIDE

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent a local runaway reaction from occurring, a dense lithium nitride layer from forming on the surface and the reaction from becoming unprogressive by carrying out the reaction of metallic lithium with nitrogen in an atmosphere of nitrogen gas while keeping temperatures of the lithium and the generated lithium nitride at the melting temperature of the lithium or below by cooling. SOLUTION: Metallic lithium is charged into an atmosphere of nitrogen gas such as a glove box without containing water and oxygen and a reaction of the metallic lithium with the nitrogen is started while ventilating nitrogen gas. Nitriding reaction progresses on the surface of the metallic lithium contacting the nitrogen while generating heat of -47 kcal/mol. The reaction velocity increases according to a temperature rise of the lithium by heat of the reaction and a temperature thereof further increases. The reaction is continued under cooling so that the temperatures of the lithium and the generated lithium nitride are preferably 80-120 deg.C when the temperatures thereof reach a certain constant value. The reaction is finally completed when the temperatures thereof become normal temperature. Methods of circulating and cooling the nitrogen gas, using cooled nitrogen and the like are preferred for cooling.