Microstructural characterisation of nanocrystalline GaN prepared by detonations of gallium azides

TLDR: In this paper, phase-pure hexagonal gallium nitride (GaN) crystallites have been synthesized by the thermal induced detonation of molecular precursors of the type (R3N)Ga(N3)3 (R=CH3, C2H5, etc.).

Abstract: High quality nanoscale, phase-pure hexagonal gallium nitride (GaN) crystallites have been synthesized by the thermal induced detonation of molecular precursors of the type (R3N)Ga(N3)3 (R=CH3, C2H5, etc.). The method allows the control of the particle size regime from 2 to about 1000 nm. X-ray diffraction and Rietveld simulations revealed an anisotropic platelet-like shape of the particles. The obtained GaN material was as well characterized by transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction, photoluminescence spectroscopy, SEM, IR, RAMAN, thermal gas effusion/mass spectrometry, thermal analysis, elemental analysis. Gas absorption measurements (BET method) showed a specific surface area of about 90 m2 · g−1. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.