Plutonium nitride

Plutonium nitride is a binary inorganic compound of plutonium and nitrogen with the chemical formula PuN.

Synthesis
Plutonium nitride can be prepared by the reaction of plutonium hydrides with nitrogen or ammonia at a temperature of 650 °C and a pressure of 0.3 kPa.

Another method to prepare plutonium nitride is from the reduction of plutonium(III) iodide with sodium in liquid ammonia:
 * PuI3 + NH3 + 3Na -> PuN + 3NaI

Other reactions can also produce plutonium nitride:
 * Pu + 1/2N2 +3/2H2 -> PuN + 3/2H2 (at 1000°C)
 * PuCl3 + 1/2N2 +3/2H2 -> PuN + 3HCl (at 800–900°C)

Physical properties
Plutonium nitride forms grey crystals in the cubic system with Fm3m space group. It can be dissolved electrochemically.

Uses
Plutonium nitride can be used as fuel in nuclear reactors.