International research team creates previously unknown nitrogen compounds

Phys.org  December 9, 2022
Non-metal nitrides contain structural units whose existence could not be empirically proven before. An international team of researchers (Germany, Sweden, USA – University of Chicago, France) synthesized previously unknown modification of the phosphorus nitride P₃N₅ at a pressure of 72 gigapascals. At 134 gigapascals, the phosphorus nitride PN₂ formed in the diamond anvil cell. They discovered that a key reason for this extreme strength was that the crystal structures of δ-P₃N₅ and PN₂ consist of a dense network of PN₆ octahedra with a phosphorus atom surrounded by six nitrogen atoms. The polymorph δ-P₃N₅ transformed into another modification of P₃N₅ when the compression pressure was reduced and remained stable under normal ambient conditions. The formation of α′-P3N5 underlines that a phase space otherwise inaccessible can be explored through materials formed under high pressure…read more. Open Access TECHNICAL ARTICLE

Graphical abstract. Credit: Chemistry , A European Journal, Volume28, Issue 62, November 7, 2022, e202201998