Study of carbon nitride compounds synthesised by co-implantation of 13C and 14N in copper at different temperatures

▶ Simultaneous implantation of 13C and 14N in copper were performed to synthesise CNx compounds. ▶ The formation of fullerene-like CNx compounds was highlighted by XPS and TEM. ▶ Only about 20% of the implanted 14N atoms are contained in the FL CxNy structures. ▶ The exceeding of implanted nitrogen precipitates in large N2 gas bubbles. ▶ A growth model for the FL CxNy structures is proposed.