Si-29 magic-angle-spinning nuclear-magnetic resonance has been measured on
spinel-type cubic silicon nitride (c-Si3N4). c-Si3N4 shows two Si-29 resona
nces at -50.0 +/-0.2 and -225.0 +/-0.2 ppm, corresponding to the tetrahedro
n SN4 and the octahedron SiN6, respectively. Integration of the spectrum gi
ves SN4/SiN6 about one half that of the spinel structure. Ab initio self-co
nsistent field Hartree-Fock molecular orbital calculations also indicate th
at the chemical shift for octahedral Si is more negative in nitride than in
oxides. (C) 2001 American Institute of Physics.