Hydrothermal synthesis of highly nitrogen-doped few-layer graphene via solid–gas reaction

Journal Article · Thu Jan 15 00:00:00 EST 2015 · Materials Research Bulletin

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.MATERRESBULL.2014.09.088· OSTI ID:22420764

Liang, Xianqing ^[1]; Zhong, Jun ^[2]; Shi, Yalin; Guo, Jin; Huang, Guolong ^[1]; Hong, Caihao; Zhao, Yidong ^[3]

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1. College of Physics Science and Technology, Guangxi University, Nanning 530004 (China)
2. Jiangsu Key Laboratory for Carbon-Based Functional Material and Devices, Institute of Functional Nano and Soft Materials Laboratory (FUNSOM), Soochow University, Suzhou 215123 (China)
3. Institute of High Energy Physics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049 (China)

Highlights: • A novel approach to synthesis of N-doped few-layer graphene has been developed. • The high doping levels of N in products are achieved. • XPS and XANES results reveal a thermal transformation of N bonding configurations. • The developed method is cost-effective and eco-friendly. - Abstract: Nitrogen-doped (N-doped) graphene sheets with high doping concentration were facilely synthesized through solid–gas reaction of graphene oxide (GO) with ammonia vapor in a self-designed hydrothermal system. The morphology, surface chemistry and electronic structure of N-doped graphene sheets were investigated by TEM, AFM, XRD, XPS, XANES and Raman characterizations. Upon hydrothermal treatment, up to 13.22 at% of nitrogen could be introduced into the crumpled few-layer graphene sheets. Both XPS and XANES analysis reveal that the reaction between oxygen functional groups in GO and ammonia vapor produces amide and amine species in hydrothermally treated GO (HTGO). Subsequent thermal annealing of the resultant HTGO introduces a gradual transformation of nitrogen bonding configurations in graphene sheets from amine N to pyridinic and graphitic N with the increase of annealing temperature. This study provides a simple but cost-effective and eco-friendly method to prepare N-doped graphene materials in large-scale for potential applications.

• OSTI ID: 22420764
• Journal Information: Materials Research Bulletin, Vol. 61; Other Information: Copyright (c) 2014 Elsevier Science B.V., Amsterdam, The Netherlands, All rights reserved.; Country of input: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA); ISSN 0025-5408
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
ABSORPTION SPECTROSCOPY
AMINES
AMMONIA
ATOMIC FORCE MICROSCOPY
DOPED MATERIALS
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE
FINE STRUCTURE
GRAPHENE
GRAPHITE
HYDROTHERMAL SYNTHESIS
HYDROTHERMAL SYSTEMS
LAYERS
MORPHOLOGY
NANOSTRUCTURES
TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY
X-RAY DIFFRACTION
X-RAY PHOTOELECTRON SPECTROSCOPY
X-RAY SPECTROSCOPY