Vanadium nitride is formed during the nitriding of steel and increases wear resistance.[1] Another phase, V2N, also referred to as vanadium nitride, can be formed along with VN during nitriding.[2] VN has a cubic, rock-salt structure. There is also a low-temperature form, which contains V4 clusters.[3]
The low-temperature phase results from a dynamic instability, when the energy of vibrational modes in the high-temperature NaCl-structure phase, are reduced below zero.[4]
It is a strong-coupled superconductor.[5] Nanocrystalline vanadium nitride has been claimed to have potential for use in supercapacitors.[6] The properties of vanadium nitride depend sensitively on the stoichiometry of the material.[7]
^Munozriofano, R; Casteletti, L; Nascente, P (2006). "Study of the wear behavior of ion nitrided steels with different vanadium contents". Surface and Coatings Technology. 200 (20–21): 6101. doi:10.1016/j.surfcoat.2005.09.026.
^Zhao, B. R.; Chen, L.; Luo, H. L.; Mullin, D. P. (1984). "Superconducting and normal-state properties of vanadium nitride". Physical Review B. 29 (11): 6198. Bibcode:1984PhRvB..29.6198Z. doi:10.1103/PhysRevB.29.6198.