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Unprecedented Centimeter‐Long Carbon Nitride Needles: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications
Author(s) -
Barrio Jesús,
Lin Lihua,
AmoOchoa Pilar,
Tzadikov Jonathan,
Peng Guiming,
Sun Jingwen,
Zamora Félix,
Wang Xinchen,
Shalom Menny
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
small
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.785
H-Index - 236
eISSN - 1613-6829
pISSN - 1613-6810
DOI - 10.1002/smll.201800633
Subject(s) - materials science , calcination , carbon nitride , nanotechnology , nitride , photocatalysis , nanostructure , carbon fibers , optoelectronics , chemical engineering , composite number , catalysis , composite material , layer (electronics) , organic chemistry , chemistry , engineering
Free standing centimeter‐long 1D nanostructures are highly attractive for electronic and optoelectronic devices due to their unique photophysical and electrical properties. Here a simple, large‐scale synthesis of centimeter‐long 1D carbon nitride (CN) needles with tunable photophysical, electric, and catalytic properties is reported. Successful growth of ultralong needles is acquired by the utilization of 1D organic crystal precursors comprised of CN monomers as reactants. Upon calcination at high temperatures, the shape of the starting crystal is fully preserved while the CN composition and porosity, and optical and electrical properties can be easily tuned by tailoring the starting elements ratio and final calcination temperature. The facile manipulation and visualization of the CN needles endow their direct electrical measurements by placing them between two conductive probes. Moreover, the CN needles exhibit good photocatalytic activity for hydrogen production owing to their improved light harvesting properties, high surface area, and advantageous energy bands position. The new growth strategy developed here may open opportunities for a rational design of CN and other metal‐free materials with controllable directionality and tunable photophysical and electronic properties, toward their utilization in (photo)electronic devices.