Effect of glycine on the synthesis of CrN nanopowder using nitridation combustion synthesis precursors

Abstract

CrN nanopowder was synthesized by nitridation method using a combustion synthesis precursor derived from chromium nitrate and glycine mixed solution. Effects of glycine on the morphology and nitridation rate of the precursors, the particle size and morphology of synthesized CrN were studied in detail. The results indicated that Cr2O3 precursor with a high specific surface area of 162 m2 g−1 could be prepared by selecting an optimum molar ratio of glycine to chromium nitrate (G/C). Furthermore, a regular variation in the morphology of precursors had been observed with increasing (G/C). The nitridation products retained the morphology of Cr2O3 in the precursors. The nitridation products, prepared with (G/C = 4), comprised well-distributed spherical particles of CrN with the average size of 30 nm. Moreover, the nitridation rate of products with (G/C = 4) was significantly higher than that of the nitridation products prepared with (G/C = 0.5, 5/3, 3).