Catalyst-free, tunable doping content of graphitic-N in arc-discharged graphene via gas and solid nitrogen sources and their formation mechanisms

• Published in: Journal of nanoparticle research : an interdisciplinary forum for nanoscale science and technology Vol. 20; no. 10; pp. 1 - 9
• Main Authors: Nan, Yanli, Li, Bo, Zhang, Xiaojing, Song, Xiaolong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01.10.2018; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Catalysis; Catalysts; Cathodes; Characterization and Evaluation of Materials; Chemical synthesis; Chemistry and Materials Science; Doping; Electric arcs; Electrical conductivity; Electrical resistivity; Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy; Electrochemistry; Electron transfer; Graphene; Inorganic Chemistry; Lasers; Materials Science; Melamine; Nanoparticles; Nanotechnology; Nanotubes; Nitrogen; Nitrogen sources; Optical Devices; Optics; Photonics; Physical Chemistry; Research Paper; Sheets; Solid nitrogen; Spectroscopy; Nanomaterials; Synthesis; N-doped graphene; Arc discharge
• ISSN: 1388-0764; 1572-896X
• DOI: 10.1007/s11051-018-4375-3

Facile, cost-effective, and catalyst-free synthesis of graphitic-nitrogen (graphitic-N) doping in arc-discharged graphene has been achieved via a gas (N 2 ) nitrogen source. The N-doped graphene sheets are mainly of 2–5 layers. According to the growth mechanisms of the cathode-part (deposit) graphene during the arcing process, N 2 exhibits a varying capability to form the graphitic-N doping. When N 2 acts as the nitrogen source, the cathode-part deposit is mainly consist of graphitic-N graphene sheets. The content of the nitrogen atom is calculated to be ~ 2.88 at%. However, when melamine is used as a nitrogen source, the atomic percentage (AP) of graphitic-N doping is almost equal to the pyridinic- and pyrrolic-N doping in the cathode-part deposit. Based on the findings, a new growth mechanism of graphitic-N doping in arc graphene is rationally proposed. The electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) results suggest that the graphite-N doping on the graphene can decrease the electron transfer resistance (Rct) and have better electrical conductivity than the normal N-doped graphene (N-NDG).