Ultrafine gallium nitride (GaN) powder has been synthesized using the
direct current (DC) are plasma method. Structural and morphological ch
anges with different reaction gases (N-2, NH3 and N-2-NH3, respectivel
y) were studied by X-ray diffractometry and transmission electron micr
oscopy. GaN powder has a wurtzite structure. Measurement of the band-e
dge photoluminescence spectrum of w-GaN powder indicated that at room
temperature the emission peak was situated at 367 nm.