Gallium Imide, {Ga(NH)_3/2}_n, a New Polymeric Precursor for Gallium Nitride Powders

The efficient preparation of the new polymeric gallium imide {Ga(NH)3/2}n from the reaction between [Ga(NMe2)3]2 and NH3 at ambient temperatures is described. The gallium imide precursor is shown by TEM and XRD studies to yield upon pyrolysis a rare cubic/hexagonal variety of gallium nitride, GaN. Some control over the average particle size of GaN in the nanosized region is achieved by application of various pyrolysis schemes.