The synthesis of transition metal nitrides via thermolysis of metal–ammine complexes, Part I: Chromium nitride

The thermal decomposition of a CrN precursor, hexaammine chromium(II) chloride, in ammonia has been investigated via a combination of thermogravimetric analysis, differential thermal analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Upon heating, [Cr(NH3)6]Cl2 sequentially loses ammonia ligands, ultimately forming CrCl2·NH3 at ∼400 °C. When heat-treated to 500 °C in ammonia, this compound ammonolyzes to form nanocrystalline CrN.