Three dimensional graphdiyne polymers with tunable band gaps

Four three-dimensional graphdiyne polymers, namely Tr-C-18, Hex-C-36, Tri-C-64, and Orth-C-72, are predicted with first principles calculations. These carbon allotropes are constituted with interlinked sp(3)-hybridized carbon pillars and sp(2)-hybridized graphene-like nanoribbons. Graphdiyne polymers are energetically more stable than C-60 and graphdiyne, and show lower phase transition energy barriers from AA-graphdiyne than that of graphite-diamond transition. Except for the semimetallic Tr-C-18, these polymers show narrow direct (or quasi-direct) band gap of 1.55-1.74 eV. The porous structure and the high in-plane Young's modulus of graphdiyne sheet are inherited by these polymers. Meanwhile, a greatly enhanced Young's modulus as high as ca. 1 TPa along the direction perpendicular to graphdiyne sheet and high hardness are developed in these systems. (C) 2015 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.