Synthesis and characterization of nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes derived from g-C3N4

Abstract

Here, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes (CNT-N) were synthesized using exfoliated graphitic carbon nitride functionalized with nickel oxides (ex-g-C3N4-Nixy). CNT-N were produced at 900 °C in two steps: (1) ex-g-C3N4-NixOy reduction with hydrogen and (2) ethylene assisted chemical vapor deposition (CVD). The detailed characterization of the produced materials was performed via atomic force microscopy (AFM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), Raman spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The possible mechanism of nanotubes formation is also proposed.