Synthesis and structural characterization of Znb3Nb2 powder

Zinc nitride (Znb3Nb2) powder has been synthesized through the nitridation reaction of Zn powder with NH3 gas (at the flow rate of 500 ml/min) at the nitridation temperature of 600 for 120 min. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicates that Znb3Nb2 is cubic in structure with the lattice constant being a = 0.9788 nm. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) show that Znb3Nb2 powder has surface morphology of various types. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) shows the differences in chemical bonding states between Znb3Nb2 and ZnO, and confirms the formation of N–Zn bonds. Observation through high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) also indicates that the computer simulation of the structure of Znb3Nb2 is consistent with the structural model put forward by Partin.