Solvent-free synthesis of crystalline carbon nitride compounds

A carbon nitride sample has been successfully synthesized by a chemical reaction between 1,3,5-trichlorotriazine and ammonium chloride at a temperature of 400 °C without any solvent. Through the measurements of X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and electron energy loss spectroscopy, it is convinced that a polycrystalline graphitic carbon nitride phase has been synthesized in the sample. Its determined lattice parameters of a and c are 4.65 Å and 6.48 Å. In addition to the dominant graphitic carbon nitride phase, another structured carbon nitride phase is also observed in TEM. Its determined d values from selected area electron diffraction pattern are in good agreement with the theoretical calculation results of α-C3N4, implying that α-C3N4 be possibly formed in the obtained sample.