By using an  ab initio  super-cell approach, simulations were made of the electronic structure around a N vacancy, and an investigation was made of its effect upon the bulk modulus of the material. This was compared with a relaxed cubic structure with one N-atom removed. The ability of the super-lattice to model the electronic structure of the crystalline material was used to deduce the properties of an amorphous structure. The amorphous form had a bulk modulus which was appreciably lower than its crystalline equivalent, and a comparison of various structures suggested that the strength of this nitride would ultimately depend upon the number of C-N bonds that could be formed.

J.E.Lowther: Physical Review B, 1998, 57[10], 5724-7