Oxynitride structures

O-SiAlON is another crystalline phase of interest. There is a limited solubility of alumina in silicon oxynitride structure to give O-SiAlONs, represented by the formula Si2 A-Aly01+A.N2 where ovaries from zero to 0.2. Formation of O-SiAION occurs in the same mechanism as P-SiAlON i.e. Si + N is replaced by Al + O. The lattice parameters of O-SiAION, Si2 AI/)i+aN2 a, increase in a very typical way with the x value.37... 

Those readers interested in the general field of oxynitride structures may also wish to consult previous reviews in this area, as provided by Lang [1], Thompson 2], Marchand [3], and Thompson [4]. 

In the case of Si3N4 the more dramatic enhancement in oxidation rates is attributed to the modification of the silicon oxynitride structure by sodium. While this phase is still present, in this case, its protective properties diminish substantially with incorporation of sodium. 

Phosphorus oxynitride, PON, is a useful starting product, as a phosphorus and nitrogen source, to prepare various nitridooxophos-phates, in particular phosphorus oxynitride glass compositions (211). Moreover, it shows as a material excellent chemical stability with potential applications in several domains. In microelectronics, for example, PON has been used to form by evaporation insulating films for the passivation of III-V InP substrates and the elaboration of MIS (metal-insulator-semiconductor) structures (190, 212-215). PON could have also valuable properties in flame retardancy (176,191,216). 

The general formula of these new oxynitrides M2M1(PX3)3 suggests as for the previous series a cyclophosphate-type structure or a long-chain polyphosphate-type structure, where nitrogen would be structurally equivalent to oxygen. 

Table 10.1 summarizes the parameters of the final four-channel YI structure. The IO chips are fabricated using Silicon-oxynitride (cleanroom) technology. Details of the fabrication process have been described extensively elsewhere41. 

Nitrides and Oxynitrides. Crystalline films of NbN and Nb Nj have been prepared. Electron-diffraction studies showed that the former has a NaCl-type structure and the latter is isomorphous with Ti405 and Ta Nj. " The phase 0-TaN, 0 has been prepared by nitriding Ta metal powder with ammonia gas at 850—1200°C. Although it could not be obtained pure, the phase was characterized by X-ray diffraction studies. The free energy of formation of TajNj has been determined as -272 42 kJ mol and that of TaO, 05N0.95 as -396 21 kJ moP. ... 

Nitrides and oxynitrides represent a relatively new class of catalytic material. Justin Hargreaves and D. McKay (University of Glasgow, UK) show that these materials have only recently been explored for reactions (e.g., photocatalysis) beyond those that take advantage of their acid-base properties and their ability to mimic Pt-based catalysts. Tuning the acid-base properties of nitrides is possible by incorporating oxygen within their structure. 

Nitrides can be sub-divided into ionic, covalent and interstitial types.An alternate general classification of nitrides, based on bonding classification, as ionic, covalent and metallic has also been applied. Ionic or salt-like nitrides are formed by electropositive elements such as Li, Mg, Ca, Sr, Ba, Cu, Zn, Cd and Hg and possess formulae which correspond to those expected on the basis of the combination of the metal ion with ions. A range of covalent nitrides are known and are exhibited by less electropositive elements such as B, S, P, C and Si. Interstitial nitrides are formed by some transition metals and refer to compounds which can be described in terms of the occupancy of interstitial sites in close packed metallic structures by nitrogen atoms. Oxygen can also be accommodated within these structures and a range of oxynitrides are known to... 

In another example, the high temperature reaction of calcium and strontium sub-nitrides with molybdenum foil has also recently been claimed to produce novel molybdenum ternary nitride oxides which contain isolated [MoN4] tetrahedra in an ordered sub-lattice of and anions. High temperature-high pressure syntheses are also yielding novel metastable structures, such as the spinel analogues mentioned previously. There is therefore an ever-increasing base of nitrides and oxynitrides with diverse structures and potential catalytic interest. 

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