Synthesis of ternary transition metal nitrides using chemically complexed precursors

Several ternary transition metal nitrides were synthesized using hydrolyzed alkanolamine complexed precursors. In this technique, two different metal chlorides are simultaneously dissolved in a common solvent such as acetonitrile, then reacted with ethanolamine to form a highly viscous solution which separates from the acetonitrile phase. Removal of the solvent and forced hydrolysis of the remaining liquid forms a precipitate which can be filtered and dried. When this precursor is heated in ammonia, a ternary nitride is formed. The approach was used to synthesize Fe3Mo3N2 FeWN2, Ni3Mo3N, and Ti3AlN powders, which were characterized using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy.