Low Temperature and Pressure Synthesis of Lithium–Nitride Compound with H₂O Addition on Lithium Target for BNCT

Abstract

Low temperature synthesis of lithium–nitride compound was conducted on the lithium target for BNCT by N₂/H₂O mixing gas squirt in the ultra high vacuum chamber, and the following results were derived. (1) Lithium–nitride compound was synthesized on the lithium target under 101.3 Pa N₂ gas squirt at room temperature and in the ultra high vacuum chamber under the pressure of 1 × 10⁻⁸ Pa. (2) Remarkable contamination by O and C was observed on the lithium–nitride compound synthesized under the squirt pressure of 13.3–80 Pa/1.33–4.7 Pa N₂/H₂O mixing gas. (3) No contamination and synthesis of Li–N compound was observed under the squirt pressure of 0.013–0.027 Pa/0–0.005 Pa N₂/H₂O mixing gas. (4) Contamination by O and C was enhanced with excessive addition of H₂O at the pressure of over 1.33 Pa.