Nanocrystalline CrN was synthesized via thermal reduction-nitridation route by the reaction of CrCl3 with NH4Cl and Na in an autoclave at 400degreesC. X-ray powder diffraction pattern indicated that the product was cubic CrN. An atomic ratio of Cr to N of 1.08:1 was determined from X-ray photoelectron spectra. Transmission electron microscopy image showed that the sample consisted of particles with the diameters of 2040 nm.