Facile synthesis of interstitial metal nitrides with the filled beta-manganese structure

A new family of nitrides, Ni2-xM′xMo3N (M′=Co or Pd; 0≤x≤1.5), has been prepared pure by nitridation of commercially available crystalline metal oxides under reducing conditions (10% H2 in N2). The simple synthesis employs standard solid-state techniques and does not require the preparation of reactive precursors. Substitution of Ni by Co or Pd leads to a linear increase of the unit cell volume with composition. The temperature, composition, and magnetic-field dependence of the molar magnetisation suggest that the introduction of Co, but not Pd, increases the degree of electron localisation in Ni2-xM′xMo3N. The same synthetic method has also lead to the formation, in mixtures, of the new phases π-Co2Mo3N and Pd2N. © 2003 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved