Synthesis of TiO x N y oxynitrides with a tunable nitrogen content.

TiO x N y is a solid solution of cubic TiN and cubic TiO, with the ability to adjust its physical and chemical properties by modifying the O/N ratio, thus making it suitable for various applications. However, the synthesis of TiO x N y remains a significant challenge for inorganic chemists. In this work, we have successfully synthesized TiO x N y nanoparticles using the layered oxide Cs 0.68 Ti 1.83 O 4 as the precursor and urea as the nitrogen source. The synthesis process was conducted within a temperature range of 800 to 1200 °C, leading to the transformation of the nitrided products from a two-dimensional layered precursor structure to a three-dimensional structure as the temperature increased. By varying the reaction temperature, the O/N ratio can be controlled. The experimental findings demonstrate that the nitrogen content in TiO x N y nanoparticles increases with rising temperature, ranging from TiO 0.8 N 0.2 at 800 °C to TiO 0.25 N 0.75 at 1200 °C. This work highlights the potential of the solid-state method in tailoring the properties of TiO x N y nanoparticles and presents a novel approach for synthesizing oxynitrides.