Europium(III) nitride

Europium(III) nitride is a binary inorganic compound of europium and nitrogen with the chemical formula EuN.

Synthesis

Europium(III) nitride can be produced via the reaction of elemental europium in an ammonia stream in corundum boats in silica glass tubes. The reaction takes place at 700 °C.

2Eu 2NH₃ → 2EuN 3H₂

In this reaction, europium is oxidized and the hydrogen in ammonia is reduced.

Physical properties

Europium(III) nitride shows Van Vleck paramagnetism and crystallizes in the rock salt structure with a = 501.779(6) pm. Thin films of rare earth nitrides, including europium(III) nitride, tend to form oxides in the presence of oxygen. The enthalpy of formation of EuN is: ΔH0 = 217.6±25.1 kJ/mol. The band gap for europium(III) nitride was calculated to be 2.08 eV.

Europium(III) nitride forms black crystals and reacts with water.

Uses

EuN is a semiconductor.

References