What is "uranium nitride"

n. 1 (context chemistry English) an insoluble binary compound or uranium and nitrogen, (UN)_n, used as fuel rods in nuclear reactors 2 (context chemistry English) the ring compound U₈N₁₆, containing alternate azide and nitride groups, soluble in hydrocarbon solvents

Uranium nitride refers to a family of several ceramic materials: uranium mononitride (UN), uranium sesquinitride (UN) and uranium dinitride (UN). The word nitride refers to the −3 oxidation state of the nitrogen bound to the uranium.

Uranium nitride has been considered as a potential fuel for nuclear reactors. It is said to be safer, stronger, denser, more thermally conductive and having a higher temperature tolerance.