Nanocrystalline titanium carbonitride, TiC0.7N0.3, has been synthesized directly by a simple reaction route of TiCl4 and C3N3Cl3 using sodium as the reductant at 600degreesC. The composition of the powders has been investigated by X-ray powder diffraction. Transmission electron microscopy image reveals that the average size of the obtained particles is about 30 nm. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.