Gallium imide, {Ga(NH)(3/2)}(n), a new polymeric precursor for gallium nitride powders

The efficient preparation of the new polymeric gallium imide {Ga(NH)(3/2)}(n) from the reaction between [GaNMe(2))(3)](2) and NH3 at ambient temperatures is described. The gallium imide precursor is shown by TEM and XRD studies to yield upon pyrolysis a rare cubic/hexagonal variety of gallium nitride, GaN. Some control over the average particle size of GaN in the nanosized region is achieved by application of various pyrolysis schemes.