High-Pressure Synthesis of K 4 N 6 with All Nitrogen Atoms Forming Aromatic Hexazine [N 6 ] 4– Anions
Abstract
Realizing compounds entirely composed of aromatic hexazine N 6 rings with high stability is a long-term challenge. Existing high-pressure synthesized compounds contain a maximum of 5.36% N atoms, forming aromatic [N 6 ] 4– rings. We predict that all N atoms contribute to aromatic [N 6 ] 4– rings in K 4 N 6, which become stable at 60 GPa and can stably exist up to 600 K at 0 GPa. Furthermore, K and KN 3 are suggested as precursors for the synthesis of K 4 N 6 . Following this approach, based on the diamond anvil cell, K 4 N 6 with 100% nitrogen atoms forming aromatic hexazine [N 6 ] 4– rings is synthesized at 45 GPa after laser heating and identified by synchrotron X-ray diffraction and Raman spectroscopy. Our results bring us closer to achieving aromatic N 6 rings at ambient condition.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Energetic Materials and Combustion
Chemical Reactions and Mechanisms
Structural and Chemical Analysis of Organic and Inorganic Compounds
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Journal of the American Chemical Society
- Publisher
- American Chemical Society (ACS)
- Volume
- 148
- Issue
- 8
- Pages
- 8954–8960
- Publication date
- 23 February 2026
- Language
- EN