Fabrication of Zirconium Nitride Nanopowder with a High Specific Surface Area by Introducing Fructose as a Double-Function Additive

Abstract In this study, zirconium nitride nanopowders with a high specific surface area were synthesized by carbothermal nitridation with fructose as a double-function additive. The precursor was prepared by an internal gelation process. The first function of fructose was to act as an organic carbon source for the nitridation reaction to decrease the apparent activation energy. The second function of fructose was to act as a microstructural controller of products to obtain a high specific surface area of 315.7 m2/g. The effects of temperature on the phase composition, chemical elements, morphology and specific surface area were investigated. The microstructure development upon heating was illustrated and the relationship between the structure evolution and variation in the specific surface area was elucidated. This method with fructose as a water-soluble organic additive could be expanded to prepare transition metal nitrides with a high specific surface area.