Bulk nanocrystalline Sn3N4powders were synthesised by a two step ammonolysis route. These provided good capacities in sodium and lithium cells, and good stability in sodium cells.

Nickel nitride is synthesised by high temperature ammonolysis of nickel(II) hexamine and tris(ethylenediamine) salts. Its electrochemical characteristics are examined in half cells vs lithium and sodium. Samples with high surface area are found to have significant reversible charge storage capacity in sodium cells and hence to be a promising negative electrode material for sodium-ion batteries.

Copper(I) nitride, produced by the ammonolysis of copper(II) pivalate at 250 °C, shows a competitive capacity and stable cycling behavior in sodium cells with a NaPF 6 /ethyl carbonate/diethyl carbonate electrolyte. Ex situ Xray diffraction studies suggest that this material acts as a conversion electrode, with Cu 3 N reduced to copper metal, but that these reactions occur only at the surfaces of the particles. A higher capacity is observed in lithium cells, again with stable cycling behavior. Hydrolysis results in nanocrystalline CuO, which has a higher sodium cell capacity. However, this capacity gradually decays on cycling and, after 30 cycles, is similar to that observed with Cu 3 N.

Mn3N2nanocapsules and nanoparticulates are prepared under solvothermal conditions and evaluated in aqueous supercapacitor electrode (KOH electrolyte) and lithium or sodium battery negative electrode applications.

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