Nitridosilicates and Oxonitridosilicates: From Ceramic Materials to Structural and Functional Diversity

TLDR

Silicates, with over 1000 natural and hundreds of synthetic variants, form a major class of compounds, and the substitution of oxygen by nitrogen yields the structurally diverse nitridosilicates, which have recently gained industrial relevance but lacked systematic study until recent decades. This review aims to chart recent advances in the synthesis, structure–property relationships, and applications of nitridosilicates, oxonitridosilicates, and related SiAlONs. The authors survey contemporary synthetic strategies, characterize crystal structures, and correlate structural motifs with functional properties to guide future material design.

Abstract

Abstract Silicates are one of the most important classes of compounds on this planet, and more than 1000 silicates have been identified in the mineral kingdom. Additionally, several hundreds of artificial silicates have been synthesized. The substitution of oxygen by nitrogen leads to the structurally diverse and manifold class of nitridosilicates. Silicon nitride, one of the most important non‐oxidic ceramic materials, is the binary parent compound of nitridosilicates, and it symbolizes the inherent material properties of these refractory compounds. However, prior to the last decades, a broad systematic investigation of nitridosilicates had not been accomplished. In the meantime, these and related compounds have reached a remarkable level of industrial application. This review illustrates recent progress in synthesis and structure–property relationships and also applications of nitridosilicates, oxonitridosilicates, and related SiAlONs.