Low temperature synthesis of AlN by addition of various Li-salts

The effect of various Li-salts on the low temperature synthesis of AlN by direct nitridation of Al metal was investigated using four Al powders with average particle sizes of 3, 20, 100 and 150 μm. These were mixed with various Li-salts (LiNO₃, LiOH·H₂O and Li₂CO₃) in different concentrations and fired at various temperatures under flowing N₂. The as-received Al powders without Li addition showed AlN formation at about 600 °C in the 3 and 20 μm samples but no AlN formation up to 850 °C in the 100 and 150 μm samples. The crystallinity of the AlN products, where formed, was however low. By contrast, all the Al powders with added Li-salts showed AlN formation up to 800 °C, with LiOH·H₂O being especially effective. Thus, the AlN formation temperature can be significantly lowered in the coarser powders by the addition of Li-salts but the effect is less in the finer powders which undergo low temperature nitridation below the melting point of Al metal even without Li. The crystallinity of the AlN products was higher in the samples containing Li-salts than without Li-salts.