Niobium nitride

Black odorless solid

Fixed

8.40 g · cm -3

2573 ° C

Insoluble in water, hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid and nitric acid

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Niobiumnitrid is an inorganic chemical compound from the group of the niobium nitrides.

Production and representation

Niobiumnitrid can be represented by reacting niobium with extremely purified nitrogen, ammonia or a mixture of the two compounds. Since the nitride with respect to oxygen and water, is very sensitive to high temperature ( in general), the penetration of such substances must be (for example by double-walled tubes ) is prevented.

Properties

With Nb2N and Nb4N3 and niobium nitride NbN three niobium nitrides are known. There are dark-colored, semi-metallic substances, nitrides lighter with high nitrogen content, have yellowish-gray or brownish colors. Niobium is a superconductor with a transition temperature of 16.5 K. Superconductivity was discovered in 1941 by Ascherman, Friederich, Justi and Kramer. Niobium nitride has a hexagonal crystal structure with space group P63/mmm ( another source: cubic sodium chloride structure). At 1370 ° C it goes to a different crystal structure. Niobium nitride will begin to oxidize in air at 800 ° C.

Use

Niobiumnitrid is used as a detector material for infrared detectors for Superconducting Magnets and for Josephson junctions.