[2] It is a salt of a coordination compound of nickel with a reaction equation of 3N2H4·H2O + Ni(NO3)2 →〔Ni(N2H4)3〕(NO3)2 ＋ 3H2O[3] NHN can be synthesized by reacting nickel(II) nitrate hexahydrate with a dilute aqueous solution of hydrazine monohydrate at 65 C.[4] To help speed the drying of the product after filtration from the hot water, it can be rinsed with alcohol.

To increase its bulk density to (1.2 g/cm3), dextrin in the amount of (1%) of the weight of the nickel(II) nitrate hexahydrate can be added.

Another benefit of NHN is that it will make the DDT (deflagration to detonation transition) in a cardboard shell, eliminating the danger of shrapnel from a metal shell.

Because of this it is a relatively safe explosive to work with having 80x less sensitivity to friction (16.0 N) than lead azide (0.1N) as shown in table 2.

Friction sensitivities of some traditional explosives (lead azide – 0.1N; lead styphnate – 1.5 N; mercury fulminate (white) – 5.0 N; tetrazene – 8.0 N; PETN – 60 N; RDX – 120 N; HMX – 120 N, show that NHN is not very sensitive, and is thereby not exceedingly hazardous in handling.