Sol–gel preparation of low oxygen content, high surface area silicon nitride and imidonitride materials

Abstract

Reactions of Si(NHMe)₄ with ammonia are effectively catalysed by small ammonium triflate concentrations, and can be used to produce free-standing silicon imide gels. Firing at various temperatures produces amorphous or partially crystallised silicon imidonitride/nitride samples with high surface areas and low oxygen contents. The crystalline phase is entirely α-Si₃N₄ and structural similarities are observed between the amorphous and crystallised materials.