Synthesis and characterization of GaN powder by the cyanonitridation of gallium oxide powder

Gallium nitride (GaN) powder was synthesized by the cyanonitridation of β-gallium oxide (β-Ga2O3) powder and characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, 71Ga magic-angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy. The cyano radical, which was formed by the thermal decomposition of organic compounds such as acetonitrile and melamine, was involved in the nitridation of β-Ga2O3. The formation of GaN via cyanonitridation commenced at slightly higher temperature than that via ammonolysis. The produced GaN powders showed five first-order phonon modes in Raman spectra. Particles’ morphologies were maintained during cyanonitridation, indicating that the β-Ga2O3 did not convert to GaN through gaseous species such as Ga2O.