| Transition metal nitrides remain a relatively unexplored class of materials primarily due to the difficulties associated with their synthesis and characterization. We have explored several synthetic routes, including high temperature reactions, microwave assisted synthesis, and the use of plasmas, to prepare binary and ternary nitrides. We have recently extended some of these methods to carbides. In this dissertation, the preparation and characterization of several transition metal nitride and carbide powders will be discussed. Ammonia gas, as well as carbon and nitrogen containing plasmas, were used for the conversion of metal and metal oxide precursors into carbides and nitrides. These materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and magnetic susceptibility studies.; The second part of this dissertation will describe the synthesis of polycrystalline samples of a family of one-dimensional oxides with the general formula, Sr 3M′RhO6 (M′ = Lanthanide, Sc, Y, or In). The structures of these new oxides were determined by using Rietveld analysis of powder X-ray diffraction data. The structures contain infinite chains composed of alternating, face-sharing RhO6 octahedra and M′O6 trigonal prisms separated by the strontium cations. The synthesis of these compounds will be presented along with their structures and magnetic properties. |
