Template-Free Synthesis of Mesoporous Transition Metal Nitride Materials from Ternary Cadmium Transition Metal Oxides

A simple process for preparing mesoporous transition metal nitrides by the ammonolysis of bulk ternary oxides that contain cadmium is reported. Mesoporous NbN, VN, Ta 3 N 5, and TiN have been obtained. The products were characterized by Rietveld refinement of powder X-ray diffraction patterns, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption/desorption analysis. Pore sizes ranging from 10 to 40 nm are easily accessible.