ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF IRON NITRIDES STUDIED BY ELECTRON DIFFRACTION .2. EPSILON-FE2N AND ZETA-FE2N

Electronic structure of hexagonal ε-Fe2N and orthorhombic ζ-Fe2N were determined by the measurement of superstructure reflection intensities, which are contributed only by nitrogen atoms. Specimen films were producedby nitriding evaporated polycrystalline iron films with ammonia gas. From the analysis of observed intensities it was concluded that the electronic structure of ε-and ζ-nitrides are about (Fe+3/2)2 N-3 and (Fe+¾)2N-3/2, respectively. It was also found that antiphase domains are formed in ζ-Fe2N as a result of three ways in the nitrogen atom occupation of the octahedral interstices formed by the iron atoms. © 1968, THE PHYSICAL SOCIETY OF JAPAN. All rights reserved.