Synthesis and characterization of AlN nanopowder by the microwave assisted carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN)

Aluminum nitride (AlN) powder was successfully synthesized at low temperature via carbothermal reduction and nitridation (CRN) assisted by microwave heating. The synthesis processes of AlN powder were investigated with X-ray diffraction, FE-SEM, FT-IR and TGA/DSC. Aluminum nitrate was used as an oxidizer and aluminum source, urea as fuel, and glucose as carbon source. These starting materials were mixed with D.I water and reacted in a flask at $100^{\circ}C$ for 20 minutes. After the reaction was finished, black foamy intermediate product was formed, which was considered to be an amorphous $Al_2O_3$ particles through intermediate product obtained by solution combustion synthesis (SCS) at the results of X-ray diffraction patterns and FT-IR. This intermediate product was nitridated at temperatures of $1300^{\circ}C$ and $1400^{\circ}C$ in $N_2$ atmosphere by a microwave heating furnace and then decarbonated at $600^{\circ}C$ for 2 hours in air. It should be noticed from FE-SEM images that as nitridated particles, identified as AlN from X-ray diffraction patterns, are covered with carbon residues. After decarbonating the nitridated powders, the spherical pure AlN powders were obtained without alumina and their particle sizes were dependent on the nitridating temperature with high temperature of $1400^{\circ}C$ giving large particles of around 70~100 nm.