Solvothermal synthesis of nitrides

HI-V nitrides are large band-gap semi-conductors. They are very promising materials for opto-elcctronic and micro-electronic applications. The present paper deals with a new process for preparing nitrides. Two nitrides, gallium nitride (GaN) and aluminium nitride (AlN), have been synthesised through a solvothermal route. This process uses ammonia in supercritical conditions as solvent and metals as source of gallium and aluminium. Moreover, an additive is used to improve the nitridation of the metals. The resulting microcrystallites of nitrides have been characterised by X-ray diffraction and the morphology has been observed by Scanning Electron Microscopy.