Synthesis and Electrical Properties of Layered-Ternary Nitride Ti₂InN

Bulk layered-ternary nitride Ti₂InN,a high-tech metal-ceramic material,was synthesized by sintering,at 900℃ in vacuum furnace, the compressed blank,comprising TiN,In and Ti powders and enclosed in a sealed quartz ampoule.The influence of the molar ratio on the microstructures,phase structures and electrical properties of the ternary nitride was investigated with X-ray diffraction,energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy.The results show that the single-phased Ti₂InN,with a Cr₂AlC structure(belonging to P63/mmc space group) and with an approximately ideal stoichiometry,was obtained by sintering the blank fabricated with an optimized molar ratio of TiN:In:Ti(1:0.95:1.1).As the temperature decreased from 300 to 5 K,the resistivity of the layered ternary nitride Ti₂InN decreased,displaying a good electrical conductivity of metals; and at a temperature above 5 K no superconductivity was observed.