Benzene-thermal preparation of nanocrystalline chromium nitride

Nanocrystalline CrN was successfully prepared through the liquid–solid reaction of anhydrous CrCl3 and Li3N, via a benzene–thermal method in the temperature range of 350–420°C, which is much lower than that used in conventional methods. This process is simple and easy to control. X-ray diffraction (XRD) indicated that the compound was cubic CrN phase with cell constant a = 4.13 Å. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) images showed that the average particle size was about 25 nm. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) indicated that the as-prepared products contained a small amount (less than 20%) of amorphous carbon.