Novel synthesis of nanocrystalline gallium nitride powder from gallium(III)-urea complex

A novel method is reported for the preparation of wurtzite gallium nitride (GaN) powder with a controlled particle size from nanometer to micron scale, using gallium(Ill)-urea complex as the precursor. The GaN powders as synthesized at various temperatures showed strong and distinct photoluminescence characteristics. The method. developed here may provide a simple, potentially economical way to form other nitride materials with desired performances.