Molten salt method unlocks metal nitride
University of Chicago chemists have developed a synthesis method to create nanocrystals from stubborn metal nitrides, materials previously considered
Chemists from the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory have solved a persistent synthesis problem. They have created nanocrystals from a series of metal nitride materials that were previously extremely difficult to produce at this scale. The work, published in Nature on August 30, 2026, opens new possibilities for flexible and printable electronics.
According to the researchers, metal nitrides are a technologically vital group of compounds. Gallium nitride, for instance, is a cornerstone of modern LED lighting. The strong, stable bonds that make these materials useful for rigid films and implants, however, also prevented their formation into nanocrystals. Dmitri Talapin, the senior author on the paper, explained that if bonds cannot break and reform during crystal growth, the process fails.
Rethinking the synthesis approach
The team's breakthrough required two key advances. First, they used molten salts as a liquid medium to stabilize the forming nanocrystals, building on a prior discovery. Then, they identified a specific combination of temperature and ammonia pressure that created the necessary conditions. Under this "sweet spot," the strong metal-nitrogen bonds could temporarily break, allowing the ions to rearrange into a proper crystal structure.
"This process is very unusual -- it goes against every bit of common sense in the field," said Talapin. "We had to entirely rethink the approach." Graduate student Ruiming Lin, the paper's first author, recalled the moment of seeing the first crystals under an electron microscope.
A portfolio of new nanomaterials
The method proved versatile. The team produced nanocrystals from nearly a dozen different metal nitride materials. These are not only useful but also relatively inexpensive. Converting them into nanocrystals could allow them to be mixed into polymers, printed with inkjet techniques, or woven into fabrics.
The researchers successfully synthesized nanocrystals from several specific nitrides, each with established technological roles:
Expanding the boundaries of nanomaterials
Talapin stated that this work expands the fundamental boundaries of the nanomaterials field. It lays a foundation for using nitrides as building blocks for next-generation devices. The strong, biocompatible, and corrosion-resistant properties of these materials could now be harnessed in flexible and integrated forms.
Lin expressed hope that the discovery would lead to many applications. The research utilized facilities at the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory. Funding was provided by the U.S. Department of Energy, Samsung QD Cluster Collaboration, the National Science Foundation, and the Air Force Office of Scientific Research.
