Low-Temperature Nitriding by Means of SMAT

The microstructure in the surface layer of iron and steel samples can be refined at the nanometer scale by means of a surface mechanical attrition treatment (SMAT) that generates repetitive severe plastic deformation to the surface layer. The subsequent nitriding kinetics of the as-treated samples with the nanostructured surface layer is greatly enhanced so that the nitriding temperatures can be reduce to 300 - 400 °C regions. This enhanced processing method demonstrates both the technological significance of nanomaterials in advancing the traditional processing techniques, and provides a new approach for selective surface reactions in solids. This article reviews the present state of the art in this field. The microstructure and properties of SMAT samples nitrided will be summarized. Further considerations of the development and applications of this new technique will also be presented.

Structural Engineering of Anode Materials for Low-Temperature Lithium-Ion Batteries:Mechanisms,Strategies,and Prospects

The severe degradation of electrochemical performance for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)at low temperatures poses a significant challenge to their practical applications.Consequently,extensive efforts have been contributed to explore novel anode materials with high electronic conductivity and rapid Li^(+)diffusion kinetics for achieving favorable low-temperature performance of LIBs.Herein,we try to review the recent reports on the synthesis and characterizations of low-temperature anode materials.First,we summarize the underlying mechanisms responsible for the performance degradation of anode materials at subzero temperatures.Second,detailed discussions concerning the key pathways(boosting electronic conductivity,enhancing Li^(+)diffusion kinetics,and inhibiting lithium dendrite)for improving the low-temperature performance of anode materials are presented.Third,several commonly used low-temperature anode materials are briefly introduced.Fourth,recent progress in the engineering of these low-temperature anode materials is summarized in terms of structural design,morphology control,surface&interface modifications,and multiphase materials.Finally,the challenges that remain to be solved in the field of low-temperature anode materials are discussed.This review was organized to offer valuable insights and guidance for next-generation LIBs with excellent low-temperature electrochemical performance.

Low-temperature characteristicsof rubbers and performance testsof type 120 emergencyvalve diaphragms

Purpose–The type 120 emergency valve is an essential braking component of railway freight trains,butcorresponding diaphragms consisting of natural rubber(NR)and chloroprene rubber(CR)exhibit insufficientaging resistance and low-temperature resistance,respectively.In order to develop type 120 emergency valverubber diaphragms with long-life and high-performance,low-temperatureresistant CR and NR were processed.Design/methodology/approach–The physical properties of the low-temperature-resistant CR and NRwere tested by low-temperature stretching,dynamic mechanical analysis,differential scanning calorimetryand thermogravimetric analysis.Single-valve and single-vehicle tests of type 120 emergency valves werecarried out for emergency diaphragms consisting of NR and CR.Findings–The low-temperature-resistant CR and NR exhibited excellent physical properties.The elasticityand low-temperature resistance of NR were superior to those of CR,whereas the mechanical properties of thetwo rubbers were similar in the temperature range of 0℃–150℃.The NR and CR emergency diaphragms metthe requirements of the single-valve test.In the low-temperature single-vehicle test,only the low-temperaturesensitivity test of the NR emergency diaphragm met the requirements.Originality/value–The innovation of this study is that it provides valuable data and experience for futuredevelopment of type 120 valve rubber diaphragms.

Boosting oxygen reduction activity and CO_(2) resistance on bismuth ferrite-based perovskite cathode for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells below 600℃

Developing efficient and stable cathodes for low-temperature solid oxide fuel cells(LT-SOFCs) is of great importance for the practical commercialization.Herein,we propose a series of Sm-modified Bi_(0.7-x)Sm_xSr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ) perovskites as highly-active catalysts for LT-SOFCs.Sm doping can significantly enhance the electrocata lytic activity and chemical stability of cathode.At 600℃,Bi_(0.675)Sm_(0.025)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSSF25) cathode has been found to be the optimum composition with a polarization resistance of 0.098 Ω cm^2,which is only around 22.8% of Bi_(0.7)Sr_(0.3)FeO_(3-δ)(BSF).A full cell utilizing BSSF25 displays an exceptional output density of 790 mW cm^(-2),which can operate continuously over100 h without obvious degradation.The remarkable electrochemical performance observed can be attributed to the improved O_(2) transport kinetics,superior surface oxygen adsorption capacity,as well as O_(2)p band centers in close proximity to the Fermi level.Moreover,larger average bonding energy(ABE) and the presence of highly acidic Bi,Sm,and Fe ions restrict the adsorption of CO_(2) on the cathode surface,resulting in excellent CO_(2) resistivity.This work provides valuable guidance for systematic design of efficient and durable catalysts for LT-SOFCs.

Effect of Different Laser Energy Nitriding on the Fretting Wear Performance of Zr Alloy

The zirconium(Zr)alloy fuel cladding is one of the key structural components of a nuclear reactor and the first and most important line of defense for accommodating fission products.During the operation of nuclear reactors,Zr alloy fuel cladding is subjected to extreme harsh environments,such as high temperature,high pressure and high flow rate for a long period of time.The wear and corrosion resistance of Zr alloys is important for the safe operation of nuclear reactors.Surface modification can effectively improve the corrosion and wear resistance of fuel cladding.Compared with coating technology,nitriding technology does not have problems for bonding between the coating and the substrate.Current research on surface nitriding of Zr alloys mainly focuses on plasma nitriding and ion implantation techniques.Research on laser nitriding of Zr alloy surfaces and their fretting wear characteristics is scarce.In this study,the surface of Zr alloy was treated with laser nitriding at different laser energies.The microstructure of Zr alloy treated with different laser energies and its fretting wear performance were studied.The results showed that after nitriding with different laser energies,the surface of the Zr alloy showed a typical molten state after melting,vaporizing and cooling under the thermal effect of the laser,and this state was more obvious with the increase of the laser energy.At the same time,doping of N atoms and formation of the ZrN phase led to different cooling rates in the molten zone that produced large tensile stresses after cooling.This led to cracks on the surface of Zr alloys after laser nitriding at different energies,and the crack density increased with increasing laser energy.This also led to an increase in the surface roughness of the Zr alloy with increasing laser energy after laser nitriding treatment.Due to the presence of water in the industrial nitrogen,nitrides were generated on the surface of the sample along with some oxides.When the laser energy was 100 mJ,there was no ZrN generation,and N existed mainly as a diffusion layer within the Zr alloy substrate.ZrN generated when the laser energy reached 200 mJ and above,which increased with the increase of laser energy.Due to the generation of ZrN phase and the presence of some oxides,the surface Vickers hardness of Zr alloys after laser nitriding treatment at different energies increased by 37.5%compared to Zr alloys.After laser nitriding treatment,the wear mechanism of Zr alloys changed.For the untreated Zr alloys,the wear mechanism was dominated by delamination and spalling wear,accompanied by oxidative and abrasive wear.The phenomenon of delamination and peeling decreased with the increase of laser energy.Wear mechanisms changed to predominantly abrasive wear with oxidative wear and delamination spalling.The wear volume of sample nitriding with laser energy 400 mJ was reduced by 46.5%compared with that of untreated Zr alloy.

Advances in sodium-ion batteries at low-temperature: Challenges and strategies

With the continuing boost in the demand for energy storage,there is an increasing requirement for batteries to be capable of operation in extreme environmental conditions.Sodium-ion batteries(SIBs) have emerged as a highly promising energy storage solution due to their promising performance over a wide range of temperatures and the abundance of sodium resources in the earth's crust.Compared to lithiumion batteries(LIBs),although sodium ions possess a larger ionic radius,they are more easily desolvated than lithium ions.Fu rthermore,SIBs have a smaller Stokes radius than lithium ions,resulting in improved sodium-ion mobility in the electrolyte.Nevertheless,SIBs demonstrate a significant decrease in performance at low temperatures(LT),which constrains their operation in harsh weather conditions.Despite the increasing interest in SIBs,there is a notable scarcity of research focusing specifically on their mechanism under LT conditions.This review explores recent research that considers the thermal tolerance of SIBs from an inner chemistry process perspective,spanning a wide temperature spectrum(-70 to100℃),particularly at LT conditions.In addition,the enhancement of electrochemical performance in LT SIBs is based on improvements in reaction kinetics and cycling stability achieved through the utilization of effective electrode materials and electrolyte components.Furthermore,the safety concerns associated with SIBs are addressed and effective strategies are proposed for mitigating these issues.Finally,prospects conducted to extend the environmental frontiers of commercial SIBs are discussed mainly from three viewpoints including innovations in materials,development and research of relevant theoretical mechanisms,and intelligent safety management system establishment for larger-scale energy storage SIBs.

Temperature inversion enables superior stability for low-temperature Zn-ion batteries

It is challenging for aqueous Zn-ion batteries(ZIBs)to achieve comparable low-temperature(low-T)performance due to the easy-frozen electrolyte and severe Zn dendrites.Herein,an aqueous electrolyte with a low freezing point and high ionic conductivity is proposed.Combined with molecular dynamics simulation and multi-scale interface analysis(time of flight secondary ion mass spectrometry threedimensional mapping and in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy method),the temperature independence of the V_(2)O_(5)cathode and Zn anode is observed to be opposite.Surprisingly,dominated by the solvent structure of the designed electrolyte at low temperatures,vanadium dissolution/shuttle is significantly inhibited,and the zinc dendrites caused by this electrochemical crosstalk are greatly relieved,thus showing an abnormal temperature inversion effect.Through the disclosure and improvement of the above phenomena,the designed Zn||V_(2)O_(5)full cell delivers superior low-T performance,maintaining almost 99%capacity retention after 9500 cycles(working more than 2500 h)at-20°C.This work proposes a kind of electrolyte suitable for low-T ZIBs and reveals the inverse temperature dependence of the Zn anode,which might offer a novel perspective for the investigation of low-T aqueous battery systems.

Effect of trace oxygen on plasma nitriding of titanium foil

Titanium nitride films are prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition method on titanium foil using N_(2) as precursor. In order to evaluate the effect of oxygen on the growth of titanium nitride films, a small amount of O_(2) is introduced into the preparation process. The study indicates that trace O_(2) addition into the reaction chamber gives rise to significant changes on the color and micro-morphology of the foil, featuring dense and long nano-wires. The as-synthesized nanostructures are characterized by various methods and identified as TiN, Ti_(2) N, and TiO_(2) respectively. Moreover, the experiment results show that oxide nanowire has a high degree of crystallinity and the nitrides present specific orientation relationships with the titanium matrix.

Impact of Low-temperature Storage on Volatile Flavor Compounds in Prepared Pork Products

[Objectives]This study was conducted to explore the dynamic changes of volatile flavor compounds in prepared pork during storage at different low-temperature conditions.[Methods]Prepared pork was stored at 4,-4 and-18℃.The volatile flavor compounds of prepared pork were determined by solid-phase microextraction-gas chromatography-mass spectrometry(SPME-GC-MS)at days 0,7,14,21 and 28,and relative odor activity value(OAV),principal component analysis(PCA)and cluster analysis(CA)were combined to analyze changes in volatile flavor compounds of prepared pork during storage.[Results]The total number of volatile flavor compounds gradually decreased with the prolongation of the storage period,and OAV analysis identified 22 key flavor compounds(OAV≥1).The results of PCA and CA showed that 2-methyl-1-butanol,1-octen-3-ol,linalool,cineole,hexanal and nonanal were the main key flavor components,and the degree of flavor degradation was low under both superchilling and freezing conditions.After 28 days of storage,the alcohol content in the chilling group was significantly higher than other two groups,and the overall content of volatile flavor compounds was also significantly higher than other two groups,indicating that the-4℃chilling storage was more favorable for maintaining the overall flavor of prepared pork.[Conclusions]This study provides a theoretical basis for finding a better storage method for prepared meat products.

Enhancing performance of low-temperature processed CsPbI2Br all-inorganic perovskite solar cells using polyethylene oxide-modified TiO_(2)

CsPbX_(3)-based(X=I,Br,Cl)inorganic perovskite solar cells(PSCs)prepared by low-temperature process have attracted much attention because of their low cost and excellent thermal stability.However,the high trap state density and serious charge recombination between low-temperature processed TiO_(2)film and inorganic perovskite layer interface seriously restrict the performance of all-inorganic PSCs.Here a thin polyethylene oxide(PEO)layer is employed to modify TiO_(2)film to passivate traps and promote carrier collection.The impacts of PEO layer on microstructure and photoelectric characteristics of TiO_(2)film and related devices are systematically studied.Characterization results suggest that PEO modification can reduce the surface roughness of TiO_(2)film,decrease its average surface potential,and passivate trap states.At optimal conditions,the champion efficiency of CsPbI_(2)Br PSCs with PEO-modified TiO_(2)(PEO-PSCs)has been improved to 11.24%from 9.03%of reference PSCs.Moreover,the hysteresis behavior and charge recombination have been suppressed in PEO-PSCs.

Ca and Sr co-doping induced oxygen vacancies in 3DOM La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts for boosting low-temperature oxidative coupling of methane

It is urgent to develop catalysts with application potential for oxidative coupling of methane(OCM)at relatively lower temperature.Herein,three-dimensional ordered macro porous(3 DOM)La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)(A_(2)B_(2)O_(7)-type)catalysts with disordered defective cubic fluorite phased structure were successfully prepared by a colloidal crystal template method.3DOM structure promotes the accessibility of the gaseous reactants(O2and CH4)to the active sites.The co-doping of Ca and Sr ions in La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts improved the formation of oxygen vacancies,thereby leading to increased density of surface-active oxygen species(O_(2)^(-))for the activation of CH4and the formation of C2products(C2H6and C2H4).3DOM La_(2-x)Sr_(x)Ce_(2-y)CayO_(7-δ)catalysts exhibit high catalytic activity for OCM at low temperature.3DOM La1.7Sr0.3Ce1.7Ca0.3O7-δcatalyst with the highest density of O_(2)^(-)species exhibited the highest catalytic activity for low-temperature OCM,i.e.,its CH4conversion,selectivity and yield of C2products at 650℃are 32.2%,66.1%and 21.3%,respectively.The mechanism was proposed that the increase in surface oxygen vacancies induced by the co-doping of Ca and Sr ions boosts the key step of C-H bond breaking and C-C bond coupling in catalyzing low-temperature OCM.It is meaningful for the development of the low-temperature and high-efficient catalysts for OCM reaction in practical application.

GROWTH PROCESS OF LOW-TEMPERATURE PLASMA-NITRIDING LAYER ON AUSTENITIC STAINLESS STEEL

The growth process of low-temperaturs plasma-nitriding layer was investigated by scan-ning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The layer is composedof expanded fcc phase (γN), whose lattice parameter of the layer increases with processtime resulting from increasing the nitrogen content. The layer hardness increases grad-ually with nitrogen content. The high slip band density on the layer surface observedin situ by SEM shows that the surface yield occurs when supersaturated nitrogen con-tent in the layer attains to some value, which is also responsible for the increase inlayer hardness.

Perspective on low-temperature electrolytes for LiFePO 4-based lithium-ion batteries

The olivine-type lithium iron phosphate(LiFePO_(4))cathode material is promising and widely used as a high-performance lithium-ion battery cathode material in commercial batteries due to its low cost,environmental friendliness,and high safety.At present,LiFePO_(4)/C sec-ondary batteries are widely used for electronic products,automotive power batteries,and other occasion-related applications with good thermal stability,stable cycle performance,and low room-temperature self-discharge rate.However,LiFePO_(4)-based battery applications are seriously limited when they are operated in a cold climate.This outcome is due to a considerable decrease in Li+transport capabilities within the elec-trode,particularly leading to a dramatic decrease in the electrochemical capacity and power performance of the electrolyte.Therefore,the design of low-temperature electrolytes is important for the further commercial application of LiFePO_(4) batteries.This paper reviews the key factors for the poor low-temperature performance of LiFePO_(4)-based batteries and the research progress of low-temperature electrolytes.Spe-cial attention is paid to electrolyte components,including lithium salts,cosolvents,additives,and the development of new electrolytes.The factors affecting the anode are also analyzed.Finally,according to the current research progress,some viewpoints are summarized to provide suitable modification methods and research suggestions for improving the practicability of LiFePO_(4)/C commercial batteries at low temperat-ures in the future.

Low-Temperature Carbonized Nitrogen-Doped Hard Carbon Nanofiber Toward High-Performance Sodium-Ion Capacitors

Carbon nanofiber(CNF)was widely utilized in the field of electrochemical energy storage due to its superiority of conductivity and mechanics.However,CNF was generally prepared at relatively high temperature.Herein,nitrogen-doped hard carbon nanofibers(NHCNFs)were prepared by a lowtemperature carbonization treatment assisted with electrospinning technology.Density functional theory analysis elucidates the incorporation of nitrogen heteroatoms with various chemical states into carbon matrix would significantly alter the total electronic configurations,leading to the robust adsorption and efficient diffusion of Na atoms on electrode interface.The obtained material carbonized at 600°C(NHCNF-600)presented a reversible specific capacity of 191.0 mAh g^(−1)and no capacity decay after 200 cycles at 1 A g^(−1).It was found that the sodium-intercalated degree had a correlation with the electrochemical impedance.A sodium-intercalated potential of 0.2 V was adopted to lower the electrochemical impedance.The constructed sodium-ion capacitor with activated carbon cathode and presodiated NHCNF-600 anode can present an energy power density of 82.1 Wh kg^(−1)and a power density of 7.0 kW kg^(−1).

Involvement of long non-coding RNAs in pear fruit senescence under high-and low-temperature conditions

Pear fruit senescence under high-and low-temperature conditions has been reported to be mediated by microRNAs.Long non-coding RNAs(lncRNAs),which can function as competing endogenous RNAs that interact with microRNAs,may also be involved in temperature-affected fruit senescence.Based on the transcriptome and microRNA sequencings,in this study,3330 lncRNAs were isolated from Pyrus pyrifolia fruit.Of these lncRNAs,2060 and 537 were responsive to high-and low-temperature conditions,respectively.Of these differentially expressed lncRNAs,82 and 24 correlated to the mRNAs involved in fruit senescence under high-and low-temperature conditions,respectively.Moreover,three lncRNAs were predicted to be competing endogenous RNAs(ceRNAs)that interact with the microRNAs involved in fruit senescence,while one and two ceRNAs were involved in fruit senescence under high-and low-temperature conditions,respectively.A dual-luciferase assay showed that the interaction of an lncRNA with a microRNA disrupts the action of the microRNA on the expression of its target mRNA(s).Furthermore,four alternative splicing-derived lncRNAs interacted with miR172i homologies(Novel_88 and Novel_69)to relieve the repressed expression of their target and produce an miR172i precursor.Correlation analysis of microRNA expression suggested that Novel_69 is likely involved in the cleavage of the pre-miR172i hairpin to generate mature miR172i.Taken together,lncRNAs are involved in pear fruit senescence under high-or low-temperature conditions through ceRNAs and the production of microRNA.

Low-temperatures synthesis of CuS nanospheres as cathode material for magnesium second batteries

Rechargeable magnesium batteries(RMBs),as one of the most promising candidates for efficient energy storage devices with high energy,power density and high safety,have attracted increasing attention.However,searching for suitable cathode materials with fast diffusion kinetics and exploring their magnesium storage mechanisms remains a great challenge.Cu S submicron spheres,made by a facile low-temperature synthesis strategy,were applied as the high-performance cathode for RMBs in this work,which can deliver a high specific capacity of 396mAh g^(-1)at 20 mA g^(-1) and a remarkable rate capacity of 250 m Ah g^(-1)at 1000 mA g^(-1).The excellent rate performance can be assigned to the nano needle-like particles on the surface of Cu S submicron spheres,which can facilitate the diffusion kinetics of Mg^(2+).Further storage mechanism investigations illustrate that the Cu S cathodes experience a two-step conversion reaction controlled by diffusion during the electrochemical reaction process.This work could make a contribution to the study of the enhancement of diffusion kinetics of Mg2+and the reaction mechanism of RMBs.

Seamlessly Merging the Capacity of P into Sb at Same Voltage with Maintained Superior Cycle Stability and Low-temperature Performance for Li-ion Batteries

Among the alloying-type anodes,elemental Sb possesses the suitable yet safe plateau,simple lithiation pathway,small voltage polarization,high conductivity,and superior cycle stability.However,challenge is that its intrinsic capacity is rather low(660 mAh g^(-1)),<1/6 of silicon.Herein,we propose a seamless integration strategy by merging the voltage and capacity of phosphorus and antimony into a solid solution alloy.Interestingly,the enlistment of P is found greatly enlarge the capacity from 660 to 993 mAh g^(-1) for such Sb_(30)P_(30) solid solution,while maintaining a single and stable discharge plateau(~0.79 V)similar to elemental Sb.Various experimental characterizations including XPS,PDF,Raman,and EDS mapping reveal that in such a material the P and Sb atoms have interacted with each other to form a homogenous solid solution alloy,rather than a simple mixing of the two substances.Thus,the Sb_(30)P_(30) exhibits superior rate performances(807 mAh g^(-1) at 5000 mA g^(-1))and cyclability(821 mAh g^(-1) remained after 300 cycles).Furthermore,such Sb_(60-x)P_(x) alloys can even deliver 621 mAh g^(-1) at
30℃,which can be served as the alternative anode materials for high-energy and low-temperature batteries.This unique seamless integration strategy based on solid solution chemistry can be easily leveraged to manipulate the capacity of other electrode materials at similar voltage.

Screening non-noble metal oxides to boost the low-temperature combustion of polyethylene waste in air

Globally,the efficient utilization of polymer wastes is one of the most important issues for current sustainable development topics.Herein,a green and efficient low-temperature combustion approach is proposed to deal with polymer wastes and recover heat energy,simultaneously alleviating the environment and energy crisis.Non-noble metal oxides(Al_(2)O_(3),Fe_(2)O_(3),NiO_(2),ZrO_(2),La_(2)O_(3)and CeO_(2)) were prepared,characterized and screened to boost the low-temperature combustion of polyethylene waste at 300℃ in air.The mass change,heat release and CO_(x) formation were studied in details and employed to evaluate the combustion rate and efficiency.It was found that CeO_(2)significantly enhanced the combustion rate and efficiency,which was respectively 2 and 7 times that of non-catalytic case.An interesting phenomenon was observed that the catalytic performance of CeO_(2) in polyethylene low-temperature combustion was significantly improved by the 7-day storage in the room environment or water treatment.XPS analysis confirmed the co-existence of Ce^(3+) and Ce^(4+) in CeO_(2),and the 7-day storage and water treatment promoted the amount of Ce^(3+),which facilitated the formation of the oxygen vacancies.That may be the reason why CeO_(2) exhibited excellent catalytic performance in polyethylene low-temperature combustion.

Twice-split phosphorus application alleviates low-temperature impacts on wheat by improved spikelet development and setting

Extreme low-temperature incidents have become more frequent and severe as climate change intensifies.In HuangHuai-Hai wheat growing area of China,the late spring coldness occurring at the jointing-booting stage(the anther interval stage)has resulted in significant yield losses of winter wheat.This study attempts to develop an economical,feasible,and efficient cultivation technique for improving the low-temperature(LT)resistance of wheat by exploring the effects of twice-split phosphorus application(TSPA)on wheat antioxidant characteristics and carbon and nitrogen metabolism physiology under LT treatment at the anther interval stage using Yannong 19 as the experimental material.The treatments consisted of traditional phosphorus application and TSPA,followed by a-4℃ LT treatment and natural temperature(NT)control at the anther interval stage.Our analyses showed that,compared with the traditional application,the TSPA increased the net photosynthetic rate(P_(n)),stomatal conductance(Gs),and transpiration rate(T_(r))of leaves and reduced the intercellular carbon dioxide concentration(C_(i)).The activity of carbon and nitrogen metabolism enzymes in the young wheat spikes was also increased by the TSPA,which promoted the accumulation of soluble sugar(SS),sucrose(SUC),soluble protein(SP),and proline(Pro)in young wheat spike and reduced the toxicity of malondialdehyde(MDA).Due to the improved organic nutrition for reproductive development,the young wheat spikes exhibited enhanced LT resistance,which reduced the sterile spikelet number(SSN)per spike by 11.8%and increased the spikelet setting rate(SSR)and final yield by 6.0 and 8.4%,respectively,compared to the traditional application.The positive effects of split phosphorus application became more pronounced when the LT treatment was prolonged.

Low-Temperature Solid State Synthesis and Characterization of Superconducting Vanadium Nitride

Superconducting vanadium nitride （VN） is successfully synthesized by a solid-state reaction of vanadium pentox- ide, sodium amide and sulfur in an autoclave at a relatively low temperature （240-400℃）. The obtained samples are characterized by x-ray diffraction, x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The result of the magnetization of the obtained VN product as a function of temperature indicates that the onset superconducting transition temperature is about 8.4K. Furthermore, the possible reaction mechanism is also discussed.