Zirconium nitride (ZrN) powders have been prepared by using the zirconium dioxide (ZrO 2), sodium azide (NaN 3) and metallic magnesium (Mg) as starting materials in a stainless-steel autoclave. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern indicates the formation of cubic phase ZrN. Hafnium nitride (HfN) can also be synthesized from hafnium dioxide (HfO 2) through the similar procedure.

Nitridation of oxides is a conventional method to prepare nitrides. However, this method has a disadvantage of requiring a high reaction temperature. Additive-assisted nitridation is an effective route to synthesize nitrides at low temperature. In this study, hexagonal phase indium nitride (InN) nanomaterials have been successfully synthesized through the nitridation of indium hydroxide by sodium amide in a stainless-steel autoclave at a low temperature (250300°C), in which sodium thiosulfate acts as an additive. Scanning electron microscope image shows that the as-obtained InN sample is composed of nanoparticles and nanosheets. The influences of the reaction temperature on the as-obtained product have also been investigated.