Facile preparation of copper nitride powders and nanostructured films

Robert Szczȩsny, Edward Szłyk, Marek A. Wiśniewski, Tuan K.A. Hoang, Duncan H. Gregory

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

The simple fluorinated precursor, copper(ii) trifluoroacetate, Cu(CF3COO)2 can be effectively utilised in the synthesis of copper(i) nitride, Cu3N, powders and films by combinations of wet processing and gas-solid (ammonolysis) techniques. The resulting materials were characterized by powder X-ray diffraction (PXD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), atomic force microscopy (AFM), diffuse reflectance UV-visible spectroscopy (DRUV-Vis), Raman spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy (IR), thermogravimetric-differential thermal analysis-mass spectrometry (TG-DTA-MS) and nitrogen adsorption (BET) analysis. Moreover, variable temperature IR (VT-IR) studies of the solid phase were performed in situ during ammonolysis. Single-phase Cu3N powders composed of sub-micron scale platelets can be produced over relatively short reaction times. Materials prepared in this way are stoichiometric narrow band gap semiconductors. The same trifluoroacetate precursor was used to prepare nanostructured nitride films by spin coating. The surface microstructure was investigated and evaluated relative to films deposited by dip coating and nebulisation using the soluble carboxylate precursor.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)5031-5037
Number of pages7
JournalJournal of Materials Chemistry C
Volume4
Issue number22
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2016

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • Chemistry(all)
  • Materials Chemistry

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