Chemical preparation and characterization of nitrogen-rich carbon nitride powders

Creamy white powders were obtained by the chemical vapor reaction of carbon tetrachloride and ammonia at 1000 degreesC, followed by washing with boiling water. The composition of the material was C3N5.5O0.5H5.4, having a nitrogen content greater than that of the hypothetical hard material C3N4. The powders were harder than quartz whose Mobs hardness is 7, but were not as hard as sapphire (Mohs hardness: 9). The hardness could be explained by the C-N single bond observed in the ESCA Cls spectrum. The material washed with boiling water showed photoluminescence, which was mostly bright and white-blue in color to the naked eye. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.