Preparation of GaN powder by mechanochemical reaction between Ga₂O₃ and Li₃N

A new route for synthesizing gallium nitride (GaN) from gallium oxide (Ga₂O₃) and lithium nitride (Li₃N) by milling is proposed in this paper. The milling was performed in a planetary ball mill with uni-size ZrO₂ balls to induce mechanochemical reaction between the starting materials in order to prepare GaN powder. The formation of GaN was confirmed in XRD patterns, and the peak intensity of GaN becomes clearer when milled under ammonia (NH₃) gas environment. In the proposed route, GaN powder could be prepared within 2 h by milling Ga₂O₃ and Li₃N at a molar ratio of 1:2 and mill speeds around 300 rpm.