Gadolinium(III) nitride


Gadolinium nitride is a binary inorganic compound of gadolinium and nitrogen with the chemical formula.

Preparation

Gadolinium nitride can be prepared by the direct reaction of gadolinium metal and nitrogen gas at 1600 °C and at a pressure of 1300 atm.

Properties

Physical

Gadolinium nitride forms a black powder. It is isomorphous with sodium chloride with the space group of Fmm.

Chemical

Gadolinium nitride hydrolyzes in humid air to form gadolinium hydroxide and ammonia. It is insoluble in water but soluble in acids.

Uses

Gadolinium nitride is used as a semiconductor. It can also be used as a magnetic material, a catalyst in chemical reactions and a component in neutron converters for radiation detectors.