Gray microcrystalline powders of ScTaN(2) were prepared from solid-state reactions of delta-ScN with Ta(3)N(5) powders at T = 1770 K. According to thermal analyses the compound is stable against oxidation by O(2) up to temperatures of T = 800 K. In an Ar atmosphere ScTaN(2) decomposes above T = 1250 K and in a N(2) atmosphere above T = 2000 K under release of N(2) to form delta-ScN and beta-Ta(2)N. The crystal structure (space group P6(3)/mmc, No. 194, a = 305.34(3) pm, c = 1056.85(9) pm, Z = 2) was refined on the basis of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data. It comprises alternating layers of ScN(6/3) octahedra and trigonal TaN(6/3) prisms, which are also observed in the binary nitrides delta-ScN and theta-TaN, respectively. A small degree of anti-site defects (about 5%) was detected. Only a small solubility of ScN in epsilon-TaN was observed, while the solubility of TaN in delta-ScN is >/=10 mol % at T = 1820 K. ScTaN(2) is a diamagnetic small gap semiconductor or a semimetal, as inferred from magnetization and electrical resistivity measurements, consistent with band structure calculations. Chemical bonding analyses with the COHP method yield significant covalent Ta-Ta interactions. Topological analyses of the electron localization function reveal unexpected Ta-Ta three-center bonding basins within seemingly empty trigonal prisms of the TaN(6/3) layers.

The system Li-V-N was studied by means of X-ray and neutron powder diffraction, thermal and chemical analyses, and XAS spectroscopy at the vanadium K-edge. Three polymorphs of Li(7)[VN(4)] have been established from X-ray and neutron powder diffraction (gamma-Li(7)[VN(4)], space group Pfourmacr;3n, No. 218, a = 960.90(4) pm, V = 887.23(6) x 10(6) pm(3), Z = 8; beta-Li(7)[VN(4)], space group Pathremacr;, No. 205, a = 959.48(3) pm, V = 883.31(5) x 10(6) pm(3), Z = 8; alpha-Li(7)[VN(4)], P4(2)/nmc, No. 137, a = 675.90(2) pm, c = 488.34(2) pm, V = 223.09(1) x 10(6) pm(3), Z = 2). Crystallographic and phase relations are discussed. All three modifications are diamagnetic, indicating vanadium in the oxidation state +5. The V-K XAS spectra support the oxidation state assignment, the non-centrosymmetric coordination (tetrahedral), and the nearly identical second coordination sphere of vanadium, made up from Li in all three phases. The 3d-related features of the spectra display strongly localized properties. The phase transitions appear to be reconstructive; no direct group-subgroup symmetry relations of the crystal structures exist. The formation of solid solutions between Li(2)O and beta-Li(7)[VN(4)] with the general formula Li(1.75)((V(0.25(1)(-)(x))Li(0.25)(x))(N(1)(-)(x)O(x)())) with 0

Li(3)[ScN(2)] was prepared from Li(3)N with Sc or ScN in a nitrogen atmosphere at 1020 K as a light yellow powder with an optical band gap of about 2.9 eV. The crystal structure was refined based on X-ray and neutron powder diffraction data (Ia$\bar 3$, Z=16, X-ray diffraction: R(profile)=0.078, R(Bragg)=0.070; Neutron diffraction: R(profile)=0.077, R(Bragg)=0.074; Rietfeld: a=1003.940(8) pm, Guinier: a=1004.50(3) pm). Li(3)[ScN(2)] is an isotype of Li(3)[AlN(2)] and Li(3)[GaN(2)] and crystallizes in an ordered superstructure of the Li(2)O structure type, leading to a three-dimensional framework of all-vertex-sharing tetrahedra 3[infinity[ScN[4/2][3-]]. Li is displaced from the center of a tetrahedron of N atoms in the direction of one trigonal face. Li(3)[ScN(2)] decomposes above 1050 K to form ScN and Li(3)N. Calculations of the periodic nodal surface (PNS) and of the electron localization function (ELF) support the picture of a covalent Sc-N network separated from isolated Li cations, whereby scandium d orbitals are involved in the chemical bonding.