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Nitrogen trifluoride

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Nitrogen trifluoride
Nitrogen trifluoride
Nitrogen trifluoride
Names
IUPAC name
Nitrogen trifluoride
Other names
Nitrogen fluoride
Trifluoramine
Trifluorammonia
Identifiers
3D model (JSmol)
ChEBI
ChemSpider
ECHA InfoCard 100.029.097 Edit this at Wikidata
EC Number
  • 232-007-1
1551
RTECS number
  • QX1925000
UNII
UN number 2451
  • InChI=1S/F3N/c1-4(2)3 checkY
    Key: GVGCUCJTUSOZKP-UHFFFAOYSA-N checkY
  • InChI=1/F3N/c1-4(2)3
    Key: GVGCUCJTUSOZKP-UHFFFAOYAA
  • FN(F)F
Properties
NF3
Molar mass 71.00 g/mol
Appearance colorless gas
Odor moldy
Density 3.003 kg/m3 (1 atm, 15 °C)
1.885 g/cm3 (liquid at b.p.)
Melting point −207.15 °C (−340.87 °F; 66.00 K)
Boiling point −129.06 °C (−200.31 °F; 144.09 K)
0.021 g/100 mL
Vapor pressure 44.0 atm[1](−38.5 °F or −39.2 °C or 234.0 K)[a]
1.0004
Structure
trigonal pyramidal
0.234 D
Thermochemistry
53.26 J/(mol·K)
260.3 J/(mol·K)
−31.4 kcal/mol[2]
−109 kJ/mol[3]
−84.4 kJ/mol
Hazards
GHS labelling:
H270, H280, H332, H373
P220, P244, P260, P304+P340, P315, P370+P376, P403
NFPA 704 (fire diamond)
NFPA 704 four-colored diamondHealth 1: Exposure would cause irritation but only minor residual injury. E.g. turpentineFlammability 0: Will not burn. E.g. waterInstability 0: Normally stable, even under fire exposure conditions, and is not reactive with water. E.g. liquid nitrogenSpecial hazard OX: Oxidizer. E.g. potassium perchlorate
1
0
0
OX
Flash point Non-flammable
Lethal dose or concentration (LD, LC):
2000 ppm (mouse, 4 h)
9600 ppm (dog, 1 h)
7500 ppm (monkey, 1 h)
6700 ppm (rat, 1 h)
7500 ppm (mouse, 1 h)[5]
NIOSH (US health exposure limits):
PEL (Permissible)
 TWA 10 ppm (29 mg/m3)[4]
REL (Recommended)
 TWA 10 ppm (29 mg/m3)[4]
IDLH (Immediate danger)
 1000 ppm[4]
Safety data sheet (SDS) AirLiquide
Related compounds
Other anions
 nitrogen trichloride
nitrogen tribromide
nitrogen triiodide
ammonia
Other cations
 phosphorus trifluoride
arsenic trifluoride
antimony trifluoride
bismuth trifluoride
Related binary fluoro-azanes
 tetrafluorohydrazine
Related compounds
 dinitrogen difluoride
Except where otherwise noted, data are given for materials in their standard state (at 25 °C [77 °F], 100 kPa).
checkY verify (what is checkY☒N ?)

Nitrogen trifluoride is the inorganic compound with the formula (NF
3). It is a colorless, non-flammable, toxic gas with a slightly musty odor. In contrast with ammonia, it is nonbasic. It finds increasing use within the manufacturing of flat-panel displays, photovoltaics, LEDs and other microelectronics.[6] NF
3 is a greenhouse gas, with a global warming potential (GWP) 17,200 times greater than that of CO
2 when compared over a 100-year period.[7][8][9]

Synthesis and reactivity

[edit]

Nitrogen trifluoride can be prepared from the elements in the presence of an electric discharge.[10] In 1903, Otto Ruff prepared nitrogen trifluoride by the electrolysis of a molten mixture of ammonium fluoride and hydrogen fluoride.[11] It is far less reactive than the other nitrogen trihalides nitrogen trichloride, nitrogen tribromide, and nitrogen triiodide, all of which are explosive. Alone among the nitrogen trihalides it has a negative enthalpy of formation. It is prepared in modern times both by direct reaction of ammonia and fluorine and by a variation of Ruff's method.[6] It is supplied in pressurized cylinders.

NF
3 is slightly soluble in water without undergoing chemical reaction. It is nonbasic with a low dipole moment of 0.2340 D. By contrast, ammonia is basic and highly polar (1.47 D).[12] This contrast reflects the differing electronegativities of H vs F.

Similar to dioxygen, NF3 is a potent yet sluggish oxidizer.[6] It oxidizes hydrogen chloride to chlorine:[citation needed]

2 NF3 + 6 HCl → 6 HF + N2 + 3 Cl2

However, it only attacks (explosively) organic compounds at high temperatures. Consequently it is compatible under standard conditions with several plastics, as well as steel and Monel.[6]

Above 200-300 °C, NF3 reacts with metals, carbon, and other reagents to give tetrafluorohydrazine:[13]

2NF3 + Cu → N2F4 + CuF2

NF3 reacts with fluorine and antimony pentafluoride to give the tetrafluoroammonium salt:[6]

NF3 + F2 + SbF5 → NF+
4SbF−
6

NF3 and B2H6 react vigorously even at cryogenic temperatures to give nitrogen gas, boron trifluoride, and hydrofluoric acid.[14]

Applications

[edit]

High-volume applications such as DRAM computer memory production, the manufacturing of flat panel displays and the large-scale production of thin-film solar cells use NF
3.[15][16]

Etching

[edit]
Main article: Etching (microfabrication)

Nitrogen trifluoride is primarily used to remove silicon and silicon-compounds during the manufacturing of semiconductor devices such as LCD displays, some thin-film solar cells, and other microelectronics. In these applications NF
3 is initially broken down within a plasma. The resulting fluorine radicals are the active agents that attack polysilicon, silicon nitride and silicon oxide. They can be used as well to remove tungsten silicide, tungsten, and certain other metals. In addition to serving as an etchant in device fabrication, NF
3 is also widely used to clean PECVD chambers.

NF
3 dissociates more readily within a low-pressure discharge in comparison to perfluorinated compounds (PFCs) and sulfur hexafluoride (SF
6). The greater abundance of negatively-charged free radicals thus generated can yield higher silicon removal rates, and provide other process benefits such as less residual contamination and a lower net charge stress on the device being fabricated. As a somewhat more thoroughly consumed etching and cleaning agent, NF3 has also been promoted as an environmentally preferable substitute for SF
6 or PFCs such as hexafluoroethane.[17]

The utilization efficiency of the chemicals applied in plasma processes varies widely between equipment and applications. A sizeable fraction of the reactants are wasted into the exhaust stream and can ultimately be emitted into Earth's atmosphere. Modern abatement systems can substantially decrease atmospheric emissions.[18] NF
3 has not been subject to significant use restrictions. The annual reporting of NF
3 production, consumption, and waste emissions by large manufacturers has been required in many industrialized countries as a response to the observed atmospheric growth and the international Kyoto Protocol.[19]

Highly toxic fluorine gas (F2, diatomic fluorine) is a climate neutral replacement for nitrogen trifluoride in some manufacturing applications. It requires more stringent handling and safety precautions, especially to protect manufacturing personnel.[20]

Nitrogen trifluoride is also used in hydrogen fluoride and deuterium fluoride lasers, which are types of chemical lasers. There it is also preferred to fluorine gas due to its more convenient handling properties

Greenhouse gas

[edit]
Growth in atmospheric concentration of NF3 since the 1990s is shown in right graph, along with a subset of similar man-made gases. Note the log scale.[21]

The GWP of NF
3 is second only to SF
6 in the group of Kyoto-recognised greenhouse gases, and NF
3 was included in that grouping with effect from 2013 and the commencement of the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol. It has an estimated atmospheric lifetime of 740 years,[7] although other work suggests a slightly shorter lifetime of 550 years (and a corresponding GWP of 16,800).[15]

Nitrogen trifluoride concentration at several latitudes since 2015.[22]
NF3 measured by the Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment (AGAGE) in the lower atmosphere (troposphere) at stations around the world. Abundances are given as pollution free monthly mean mole fractions in parts-per-trillion.

Since 1992, when less than 100 tons were produced, production grew to an estimated 4000 tons in 2007 and is projected to increase significantly.[15] World production of NF3 is expected to reach 8000 tons a year by 2010. By far the world's largest producer of NF
3 is the US industrial gas and chemical company Air Products & Chemicals. An estimated 2% of produced NF
3 is released into the atmosphere.[23][24] Robson projected that the maximum atmospheric concentration is less than 0.16 parts per trillion (ppt) by volume, which will provide less than 0.001 Wm−2 of IR forcing.[25] The mean global tropospheric concentration of NF3 has risen from about 0.02 ppt (parts per trillion, dry air mole fraction) in 1980, to 0.86 ppt in 2011, with a rate of increase of 0.095 ppt yr−1, or about 11% per year, and an interhemispheric gradient that is consistent with emissions occurring overwhelmingly in the Northern Hemisphere, as expected. This rise rate in 2011 corresponds to about 1200 metric tons/y NF3 emissions globally, or about 10% of the NF3 global production estimates. This is a significantly higher percentage than has been estimated by industry, and thus strengthens the case for inventorying NF3 production and for regulating its emissions.[26] One study co-authored by industry representatives suggests that the contribution of the NF3 emissions to the overall greenhouse gas budget of thin-film Si-solar cell manufacturing is clear.[27]

The UNFCCC, within the context of the Kyoto Protocol, decided to include nitrogen trifluoride in the second Kyoto Protocol compliance period, which begins in 2012 and ends in either 2017 or 2020. Following suit, the WBCSD/WRI GHG Protocol is amending all of its standards (corporate, product and Scope 3) to also cover NF3.[28]

Safety

[edit]

Skin contact with NF
3 is not hazardous, and it is a relatively minor irritant to mucous membranes and eyes. It is a pulmonary irritant with a toxicity considerably lower than nitrogen oxides, and overexposure via inhalation causes the conversion of hemoglobin in blood to methemoglobin, which can lead to the condition methemoglobinemia.[29] The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) specifies that the concentration that is immediately dangerous to life or health (IDLH value) is 1,000 ppm.[30]

See also

[edit]

Notes

[edit]
  1. ^ This vapour pressure is the pressure at its critical temperature – below ordinary room temperature.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Air Products; Physical Properties for Nitrogen Trifluoride
  2. ^ Sinke, G. C. (1967). "The enthalpy of dissociation of nitrogen trifluoride". J. Phys. Chem. 71 (2): 359–360. doi:10.1021/j100861a022.
  3. ^ Inorganic Chemistry, p. 462, at Google Books
  4. ^ a b c NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. "#0455". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  5. ^ "Nitrogen trifluoride". Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH). National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
  6. ^ a b c d e Philip B. Henderson, Andrew J. Woytek "Fluorine Compounds, Inorganic, Nitrogen" in Kirk‑Othmer Encyclopedia of Chemical Technology, 1994, John Wiley & Sons, NY. doi:10.1002/0471238961.1409201808051404.a01 Article Online Posting Date: December 4, 2000
  7. ^ a b "Climate Change 2007: The Physical Sciences Basis" (PDF). IPCC. Retrieved 2008-07-03. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  8. ^ Robson, J. I.; Gohar, L. K.; Hurley, M. D.; Shine, K. P.; Wallington, T. (2006). "Revised IR spectrum, radiative efficiency and global warming potential of nitrogen trifluoride". Geophys. Res. Lett. 33 (10): L10817. Bibcode:2006GeoRL..3310817R. doi:10.1029/2006GL026210.
  9. ^ Richard Morgan (2008-09-01). "Beyond Carbon: Scientists Worry About Nitrogen's Effects". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2018-01-23. Retrieved 2008-09-07.
  10. ^ Lidin, P. A.; Molochko, V. A.; Andreeva, L. L. (1995). Химические свойства неорганических веществ (in Russian). pp. 442–455. ISBN 978-1-56700-041-2.
  11. ^ Otto Ruff, Joseph Fischer, Fritz Luft (1928). "Das Stickstoff-3-fluorid". Zeitschrift für Anorganische und Allgemeine Chemie. 172 (1): 417–425. doi:10.1002/zaac.19281720132.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ Klapötke, Thomas M. (2006). "Nitrogen–fluorine compounds". Journal of Fluorine Chemistry. 127 (6): 679–687. doi:10.1016/j.jfluchem.2006.03.001.
  13. ^ Ruff, John K. (1967). "Derivatives of Nitrogen Fluorides". Chemical Reviews. 67 (6): 665–680. doi:10.1021/cr60250a004.
  14. ^ Parry, Robert W., and Thomas C. Bissot. "The Preparation and Properties of Phosphorus Trifluoride-Borane and Phosphorus Trifluoride-Borane-d31." Journal of the American Chemical Society 78, no. 8 (1956): 1524-1527.
  15. ^ a b c Prather, M.J.; Hsu, J. (2008). "NF
    3    , the greenhouse gas missing from Kyoto"    . Geophys. Res. Lett. 35 (12): L12810. Bibcode:2008GeoRL..3512810P. doi:10.1029/2008GL034542.
  16. ^ Tsai, W.-T. (2008). "Environmental and health risk analysis of nitrogen trifluoride (NF
    3    ), a toxic and potent greenhouse gas". J. Hazard. Mater. 159 (2–3): 257–63. doi:10.1016/j.jhazmat.2008.02.023. PMID 18378075.
  17. ^ H. Reichardt, A. Frenzel and K. Schober (2001). "Environmentally friendly wafer production: NF
    3     remote microwave plasma for chamber cleaning". Microelectronic Engineering. 56 (1–2): 73–76. doi:10.1016/S0167-9317(00)00505-0.
  18. ^ "F-GHG Emissions Reduction Efforts: Flat Panel Display Supplier Profiles" (PDF). U.S. EPA. 2016-09-30.
  19. ^ "Fluorinated Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Supplies Reported to the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP)". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 27 September 2015. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  20. ^ J. Oshinowo; A. Riva; M Pittroff; T. Schwarze; R. Wieland (2009). "Etch performance of Ar/N2/F2 for CVD/ALD chamber clean". Solid State Technology. 52 (2): 20–24.
  21. ^ "Climate Change Indicators: Atmospheric Concentrations of Greenhouse Gases - Figure 4". U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. 27 June 2016. Retrieved 2021-03-05.
  22. ^ "Atmospheric Flask NF3". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 2020-06-30.
  23. ^ M. Roosevelt (2008-07-08). "A climate threat from flat TVs, microchips". Los Angeles Times.
  24. ^ Hoag, Hannah (2008-07-10). "The Missing Greenhouse Gas". Nature Reports Climate Change. Vol. 1, no. 808. Nature News. pp. 99–100. doi:10.1038/climate.2008.72.
  25. ^ Robson, Jon. "Nitrogen trifluoride (NF3)". Royal Meteorological Society. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved 2008-10-27. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  26. ^ Arnold, Tim; Harth, C. M.; Mühle, J.; Manning, A. J.; Salameh, P. K.; Kim, J.; Ivy, D. J.; Steele, L. P.; Petrenko, V. V.; Severinghaus, J. P.; Baggenstos, D.; Weiss, R. F. (2013-02-05). "Nitrogen trifluoride global emissions estimated from updated atmospheric measurements". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA. 110 (6): 2029–2034. Bibcode:2013PNAS..110.2029A. doi:10.1073/pnas.1212346110. PMC 3568375. PMID 23341630.
  27. ^ V. Fthenakis; D. O. Clark; M. Moalem; M. P. Chandler; R. G. Ridgeway; F. E. Hulbert; D. B. Cooper; P. J. Maroulis (2010-10-25). "Life-Cycle Nitrogen Trifluoride Emissions from Photovoltaics". Environ. Sci. Technol. 44 (22). American Chemical Society: 8750–7. Bibcode:2010EnST...44.8750F. doi:10.1021/es100401y. PMID 21067246.
  28. ^ Rivers, Ali (2012-08-15). "Nitrogen trifluoride: the new mandatory Kyoto Protocol greenhouse gas". Ecometrica.com. www.ecometrica.com.
  29. ^ Malik, Yogender (2008-07-03). "Nitrogen trifluoride – Cleaning up in electronic applications". Gasworld. Archived from the original on 2008-08-04. Retrieved 2008-07-15.
  30. ^ "Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health Concentrations (IDLH): Nitrogen Trifluoride". National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. 2 November 2018.
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