Lawrence Berkeley Lab, Calif., in close collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and other institutions, has developed a large interactive stability map of the ternary nitrides, highlighting nitride compositions. Stable phases are indicated on the ternary phase diagram shown by a blue square. So far, the map has yielded the prediction of 244 new stable ternary nitride compounds.
Formed by elements combining with nitrogen, nitrides can possess unique properties with potential applications from semiconductors to industrial coatings. But before nitrides can be put to use, they first must be discovered – and the odds of finding them in nature are slim.
“For ancient explorers, sailing into the unknown was a very risky endeavor, and in the same way, exploration of new chemical spaces can also be risky,” explained Wenhao Sun, lead author of the paper and staff scientist at Berkeley Lab. “If you don’t find a new material where you are looking, it can be a big waste of time and effort. Our chemical map can help to guide the exploratory synthesis of nitrides, just as maps helped to guide explorers, allowing them to navigate better.”
https://newscenter.lbl.gov/2019/06/17/groundbreaking-study-maps-out-paths-to-new-nitride-materials/
