Graphitic carbon nitride materials synthesized via reactive pyrolysis routes and their properties

The present article describes the large-scale powder syntheses of high nitrogen-content graphitic carbon nitride materials with unique belt-like or tubular morphologies via reactive pyrolysis of two molecular precursors, melamine and cyanuric chloride. The structural characterizations based on XRD indicate the presence of turbostratic ordering in the graphene layers of carbon nitride. Spectroscopic analyses via FTIR technique are consistent with the layered structure with sp2-hybridized bonding features. Morphological investigations via SEM and TEM reveal the elaboration of micron-sized tubular hollow vessels. The optical properties of the prepared samples are investigated via UV absorption and PL spectroscopy, which exhibit the semiconductor-like absorption edge at 2.7 to 2.8 eV and a well-defined PL emission band at 425 nm.

Research Highlights► Reactive pyrolysis of melamine and cyanuric chloride at elevated temperatures. ► Graphitic carbon nitride with belt-like or tubular morphologies. ► Fragmentation of triazine rings and their rearrangement into heptazine rings. ► The samples exhibit semiconductor-like absorption edge at 2.7 to 2.8 eV.