Study of Electron State in Vanadium Nitride by Intensity Measurements of X-Ray Diffraction

Precise relative measurement were carried out on a powder of almost stoichiometric VN. The observed values for crystal structure factors were compared with the theoretical ones calculated from atomic scattering factors. These factors are available only for V 0 , V +1 , V +2 , V +3 , N 0 and N -1 , while reasonable analytical expressions were assumed for ions N -2 and N -3 stabilized only in a crystalline state. The agreement was found to be far better in V +2 N -2 and V +3 N-3 than in V 0 N 0 and V +1 N -1 . Slight significant deviation due to a non-spherical electron distribution seems to be found, and there for it was concluded that the covalent bonding might exist to a small extent. In spite of various restrictions inherent to the present method, it is at least obvious that nitrogen atoms are electron acceptors.