Synthesis and Neutron Diffraction Study of Na3WN3 and Na3MoN3

Abstract

We have used our ambient pressure method for the synthesis of ternary alkali metal nitrides to synthesize a new class of nitrides, Na3MN3 (M = Mo or W). These compounds were synthesized from the metal nitride and NaNH2 at 500°C under flowing ammonia at atmospheric pressure. The structures were examined using X-ray powder diffraction and neutron powder diffraction and were found to be identical with that obtained from the single crystal prepared at high pressure by Ostermann, Zachwieja, and Jacobs.