  Four anti-perovskite-type compounds, ZnNNi3, ZnCNi3, SnNCo3, and SnCCo3, are
synthesised through reactions between ingredient metal oxides and organic
compound melamine (C3H6N6). ZnNNi3 and ZnCNi3 are selectively synthesised by
choosing different reaction temperatures and nominal oxide-to-melamine ratios.
SnNCo3 is synthesised for the first time by this melamine method. Resistivity,
magnetisation, and heat capacity measurements reveal that SnNCo3 is a
correlated metal with a high density of states at the Fermi level. Our results
demonstrate that this feasible synthetic route using melamine is useful in the
search for complex metal carbides and nitrides toward novel functional
materials.
