Low-Temperature Synthesis of Titanium Oxynitride Nanoparticles

The synthesis of transition metal oxynitrides is complicated by extreme reaction conditions such as high temperatures and/or high pressures. Here, we show an unprecedented solution-based synthesis of narrowly dispersed titanium oxynitride nanoparticles of cubic shape and average size of 65 nm. Their synthesis is performed by using titanium tetrafluoride and lithium nitride as precursors alongside trioctylphosphine oxide (TOPO) and cetrimonium bromide (CTAB) as stabilizers at temperatures as low as 250 °C. The obtained nanoparticles are characterized in terms of their shape and optical properties, as well as their crystalline rock-salt structure, as confirmed by XRD and HRTEM analysis. We also determine the composition and nitrogen content of the synthesized particles using XPS and EELS. Finally, we investigate the applicability of our titanium oxynitride nanoparticles by compounding them into carbon fiber electrodes to showcase their applicability in energy storage devices. Electrodes with titanium oxynitride nanoparticles exhibit increased capacity compared to the pure carbon material.