Rare earth niobium oxynitrides, LnNbON2−δ (Ln=Y, La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy): Synthesis, structure and properties

Ammonolysis of rare earth niobates of the type LnNbO4 (Ln=Y, La, Pr, Nd, Gd, Dy) yields oxynitrides of different structures. When Ln=La, Nd and Pr, the structure is that of an orthorhombic perovskite of the general formula LnNbON2. As the size of the rare earth decreases, the oxynitride has a nitrogen-deficient defect fluorite (Ln=Pr, Nd, Gd), or pyrochlore (Ln=Y) structure. The IR spectra of the oxynitrides and the corresponding oxides are significantly different. Thermogravimetric analysis suggests the formation of an intermediate phase wherein the N2 molecule is attached to the oxide lattice above 400°C and decomposes to give the oxide on heating in an oxygen atmosphere. Raman spectra of the intermediate phases show evidence for the NN stretching vibration. Gadolinium niobium oxynitride is found to be paramagnetic.