Carbon nitrides synthesized by glow discharge method

Carbon nitrides were synthesized by a glow discharge method. The characterization of the carbon nitrides was carried out using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transformation infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, as well as X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The structure of the resulting material is strongly dependent on the synthesis temperature. Crystalline α-C3N4 and amorphous graphite were obtained at 500 deg. C. After having been annealed at 500 deg. C the amorphous graphite transformed into the Chaoite structure. An orthorhombic structure with a=0.270 nm, b=0.718 nm and c=0.970 nm was obtained in the specimen synthesized at 800 deg. C. FTIR and XPS confirmed that this orthorhombic phase is a carbon nitride with an N:C ratio of about 0.63