Synthesis, Crystal Structure and Magnetic Properties of Bixbyite-type Vanadium Oxide Nitrides

Abstract

Ammonolysis of vanadium sulfide leads to the formation of bixbyite-type vanadium oxide nitrides. Small amounts of nitrogen incorporated in the structure result in the stabilization of the bixbyite type not known for vanadium oxides. The crystal structure was investigated using X-ray diffraction and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. At temperatures above 550 °C the powders decompose to corundumtype V 2 O 3 containing no detectable amount of nitrogen. Below 39 K magnetic ordering is observed.