silicon nitride

noun

: any of several compounds of silicon and nitrogen

specifically : a compound Si₃N₄ that is a hard ceramic used in high-temperature applications and in composites

Examples of silicon nitride in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The tips feature a high-hardness silicon nitride ceramic construction. — New Atlas, 10 Nov. 2026

The hot salt bath targets the solar cell’s silicon nitride (SiNx) passivation layer rather than dissolving the metal directly. — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 29 Oct. 2026

His lab is working on heat-tolerant materials like silicon nitride and titanium nitride, aiming for a sail that can withstand temperatures of around 1,000 degrees Celsius (that's 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit) for long enough to pull off a sun-dive. — Kiona N. Smith, Space.com, 31 May 2026

Intermixing at the interface between the diamond and silicon nitride led to the formation of silicon carbide, which acted as a kind of bridge for the phonons, allowing more efficient heat transfer. — IEEE Spectrum, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1903, in the meaning defined above