Structural Characterization of a Series of New Ternary η-Nitride Compounds

ABSTRACTThe structures of four new tungsten based, ternary nitride compounds, Fe3W3N, Ni6W6N, Ni2W4N, and Fe4W2N, each prepared using a complexed precursor synthesis route, have been determined by Rietveld analyses of the respective powder x-ray diffraction (PXRD) data. Each compound crystallizes in a relatively complex cubic structure which is in general isostructural with the η-carbide structure. However, subtle structural differences which are compositionally dependent do exist between each nitride and these will be examined in detail in this paper.