A Comprehensive Review on the Synthesis and Energy Applications of Nano-structured Metal Nitrides

Abstract

Nanosized metal nitrides, due to their chemical characteristics which make them sustainable alternatives to noble metals in catalysis, have drawn the attention of researchers worldwide. Transition metal nitrides are very similar in their method of synthesis, properties, and applications. Their synthetic parameters are considered to be the main factor for determining the effectiveness of metal nitrides in photocatalysis, energy storage devices, remediation of environmental pollutants, gas sensors, and biomedical applications. This review focuses on very recent advances made in synthetic approaches and electrocatalytic applications of metal nitrides. The synthetic approaches will provide an overview of cost of production and consumption of energy and time required for synthesis. Furthermore, some recent techniques that offer new paths for researchers, such as electrochemical, sol-gel, solvothermal, sonochemical, solid-state reaction, chemical synthesis, and many more, are also discussed. Various applications in electrocatalysis, water splitting, lithium ion batteries, and super-capacitors, etc. are summarized. We are confident that this review will provide very useful information for the upcoming community of researchers interested in synthesizing nitrides for various applications.

Composite Nitride Nanoceramics in the System Titanium Nitride (TiN)-Aluminum Nitride (AlN) through High Pressure and High Temperature Sintering of Synthesis-Mixed Nanocrystalline Powders

“…Artificial main group metal/metalloid and transition metal nitride nanostructured thin films and powders are unparalleled engineering materials with an ever-increasing impact on technology [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. All this is possible due to the materials’ unique properties and, generally, robust behavior towards oxidation even at elevated temperatures.…”

“…In another spectrum, traditional ceramic applications that mainly utilize the materials’ mechanical and thermal properties are characteristic for many transition metal nitrides, including TiN, ZrN, and WN but incorporating also such main group compounds such as BN, AlN, and Si 3 N 4 (each of which already plays a significant role in various technologies) [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 ]. Many emerging applications of simple and complex (alloyed and composite) nitrides exploit the synergy advantages of coexisting electronic and mechanical/thermal properties [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 13 ]. In this regard, the subject of this study is one of the important composite nitride systems made of AlN and TiN, ceramics of which may have the combined advantages of the insulating and heat-conducting properties of AlN and the low electrical resistivity and mechanically robust nature of TiN, yielding an unusual set of functional features.…”

“…Moreover, it has high thermal stability and advantageous mechanical toughness. AlN is commercially available as microcrystalline powders made mostly by carbothermal reduction of alumina Al 2 O 3 or direct nitridation of metal aluminum powders, although there are several specific methods that use selected aluminum inorganic and organometallic precursors for the preparation of nanosized powders [ 1 , 15 , 16 , 17 , 18 ].…”

New Nitride Nanoceramics from Synthesis-Mixed Nanopowders in the Composite System Gallium Nitride GaN–Titanium Nitride TiN

“…Not found in nature man-made metal and metalloid nitrides have already confirmed their utmost utility in modern technology with a noticeable share in common-day applications including Blu-ray devices and efficient LED laser and light sources [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]. Many of them are semiconductors, and examples include the wide-bandgap semiconductor gallium nitride GaN, E g = 3.4 eV for hexagonal polytype and 3.2 eV for cubic polytype, the narrow-bandgap indium nitride InN, E g = 0.7–0.8 eV, and their intermediate-bandgap binary solid solutions of In x Ga 1−x N with E g = 0.7–3.4 eV and Al x Ga 1−x N with E g = 3.4–6.2 eV [ 5 ].…”

“…Other nitride materials that receive considerable attention are boron nitride BN [ 8 ] and silicon nitride Si 3 N 4 [ 9 ]. Many foreseen uses of complex nitrides, i.e., alloyed or composite, utilize the synergy of coexisting electronic and mechanical/thermal properties [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 10 ]. In this regard, one of the relatively not yet in-depth investigated composite nitride systems is made of GaN and TiN, with a potentially attractive set of combined optical, electronic, and mechanical properties.…”