The structures, magnetism and ion transport properties of the ternary nitrides Li(3-x-y)M(x)N (M = Co, Ni, Cu; y= lithium vacancy) were examined by powder X-ray diffraction, solid-state NMR and SQUID magnetometry. Doping levels are achieved up to x approximately = 0.4 for M = Cu and Co, but much higher substitution levels (x approximately =1) are obtained in the Li-Ni-N system. Transition metals substitute for Li at the Li(1) interplanar site and the ensuing lithium vacancies are disordered within the [Li(2)N] planes. High substitution levels in the Li-Ni-N system lead to the formation of ordered phases. Diffusion parameters, including activation energies, correlation times and diffusion coefficients, were obtained from variable-temperature solid-state NMR measurements in several ternary compounds. SQUID magnetometry shows significant variations of the electronic properties with dopant and x. The properties of the ternary nitrides can be rationalised in terms of the identity of the dopant and the structural modifications arising from the substitution process.

The structure, Li+ diffusion dynamics, and magnetic properties of the layered nitridonickelate(II), LiNiN, have been investigated by powder X-ray diffraction, 7Li solid-state NMR, and SQUID magnetometry and compared and contrasted with those of the Li+ fast ion conductor, Li3N. The replacement of Li+ by Ni2+ with concomitant generation of Li+ vacancies has profound effects on ionic diffusion and electronic properties. The nitridonickelate, akin to its binary parent, displays rapid Li+ ion diffusion but, by contrast, the diffusion process is confined only to the Li-N planes. Further, replacement of Li by Ni leads to a transition from semiconducting to metallic behavior, likely mediated through the creation of infinite, 1D Ni-N chains of increased covalency.

The layered ternary nitride LiNiN shows an interesting combination of fast Li+ ion diffusion and metallic behavior, properties which suggest potential applications as an electrode material in lithium ion batteries. A detailed investigation of the structure and properties of LiNiN using powder neutron diffraction, ab initio calculations, SQUID magnetometry, and solid-state NMR is described. Variable-temperature neutron diffraction demonstrates that LiNiN forms a variant of the parent Li3N structure in which Li+ ion vacancies are ordered within the [LiN] planes and with Ni exclusively occupying interlayer positions (at 280 K: hexagonal space group Pm2, a = 3.74304(5) A, c = 3.52542(6) A, Z = 1). Calculations suggest that LiNiN is a one-dimensional metal, as a result of the mixed pi- and sigma-bonding interactions between Ni and N along the c-axis. Solid-state 7Li NMR spectra are consistent with both fast Li+ motion and metallic behavior.