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The Reduction of Various Nitrides under Hydrogen: Ni3N, Cu3N, Zn3N2 and Ta3N5

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Abstract

Metal nitrides may be of interest as potential sources of activated nitrogen which can be reacted with target organic molecules. Accordingly, the reduction of nitrogen within Ni3N, Cu3N, Zn3N2 and Ta3N5 under a 1/3 Ar/H2 flow at elevated temperature has been determined as a simple test of lattice nitrogen reactivity. As anticipated by consideration of their stability, Ni3N and Cu3N are reduced completely at 250 °C with up to 30 % of their total lattice nitrogen yielding ammonia. The elimination of N2 results in the formation of pores which are particularly pronounced in the case of the denitrided Cu system. In the case of Zn3N2, the lattice nitrogen is less reactive with incomplete denitridation being observed at 400 °C and the amount of ammonia produced being 15 % of the total nitrogen available. Although Ta3N5 contains the least reactive nitrogen of the four samples studied, it can be regenerated by ammonolysis which is an important consideration in any envisaged application.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Mrs Kim Wilson for all her assistance in performing nitrogen analysis and also Mr Jim Gallagher for his assistance with scanning electron microscopy. We are also very grateful to Huntsman Polyurethanes and the School of Chemistry, University of Glasgow for the provision of financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. WestCHEM, School of Chemistry, Joseph Black Building, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, G12 8QQ, UK

    A.-M. Alexander & J. S. J. Hargreaves

  2. Huntsman Polyurethanes, Everslaan 45, B-3078, Everberg, Belgium

    C. Mitchell

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  1. A.-M. Alexander
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  2. J. S. J. Hargreaves
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  3. C. Mitchell
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Correspondence to J. S. J. Hargreaves.

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Alexander, AM., Hargreaves, J.S.J. & Mitchell, C. The Reduction of Various Nitrides under Hydrogen: Ni3N, Cu3N, Zn3N2 and Ta3N5 . Top Catal 55, 1046–1053 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11244-012-9890-3

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