Niobium nitride

Niobium nitride is a compound of niobium and nitrogen (nitride) with the chemical formula NbN. At low temperatures (about 16 K) NbN becomes a superconductor, and is used in detectors for infrared light.^[1][2][3]

Niobium nitride

Names
IUPAC name Niobium nitride
Identifiers
CAS Number	24621-21-4 Y
3D model (JSmol)	Interactive image
ChemSpider	28541694
ECHA InfoCard	100.042.132
EC Number	246-362-5
PubChem CID	90560
InChI InChI=1S/N.Nb Key: CFJRGWXELQQLSA-UHFFFAOYSA-N
SMILES N#[Nb]
Properties
Chemical formula	NbN
Molar mass	106.91 g/mol
Appearance	gray solid
Density	8.470 g/cm3
Melting point	2,573 °C (4,663 °F; 2,846 K)
Solubility in water	reacts to form ammonia
Structure
Crystal structure	cubic, cF8
Space group	Fm3m, No. 225
Hazards
Flash point	Non-flammable
Safety data sheet (SDS)	External MSDS
Related compounds
Other cations	Vanadium nitride Tantalum nitride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa). N verify (what is YN ?) Infobox references

Uses

• Niobium nitride's main use is as a superconductor.
  • Detectors based on it can detect a single photon in the 1-10 micrometer section of the infrared spectrum,^[4] which is important for astronomy and telecommunications. It can detect changes up to 25 gigahertz.
  • Superconducting NbN nanowires can be used in particle detectors with high magnetic fields.^[5]
• Niobium nitride is also used in absorbing anti-reflective coatings.
• In 2015, it was reported that Panasonic Corp. has developed a photocatalyst based on niobium nitride that can absorb 57% of sunlight to support the decomposition of water to produce hydrogen gas as fuel for electrochemical fuel cells.^[6]