Synthesis and Characterization of High Surface Area Oxinitride Powders in the Al–V–O–N System

Transition metal nitrides are known to be catalytically active materials. Recently, much attention has been given to transition metal oxinitrides that may constitute a novel family of catalysts with basic or acido-basic properties. It is useful to synthesize such compounds with a high specific area. We have investigated a new family of compounds, the oxinitrides of vanadium and aluminum. Interesting catalytic activity is expected from the coexistence of nitride sites and of vanadium sites with different oxidation states between V and III. A vanadium and aluminum mixed oxide synthesized by a soft chemistry process was subjected to thermal nitridation under ammonia. Control of the vanadium/aluminum ratio is possible, which allows control over the nitrogen content in the final compound. A high specific area can be preserved during the thermal process of nitridation. When the nitridation temperature is 600°C, an amorphous oxinitride of vanadium and aluminum is obtained with a specific area higher than 200 m2g−1, depending on the V/Al ratio.