A characterisation by N-14 NMR of the binary nitrides ALN and BN is pr
esented. Both the static and magic angle spinning (MAS) lineshapes hav
e been investigated in order to determine, or set upper limits on, the
nuclear quadrupole coupling (C-q) at the nitrogen site. Additional da
ta are given for the C-q values at the Al and B sites. A comparison is
made with other similar (mainly wurtzite) binary compounds for which
C-q is known at each atomic sire. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science B.V.