Carbon Nitride Nanothread Crystals Derived from Pyridine

Abstract

Carbon nanothreads are a new one-dimensional sp carbon nanomaterial. They assemble into hexagonal crystals in a room temperature, nontopochemical solid-state reaction induced by slow compression of benzene to 23 GPa. Here we show that pyridine also reacts under compression to form a well-ordered sp product: CNH carbon nitride nanothreads. Solid pyridine has a different crystal structure from solid benzene, so the nontopochemical formation of low-dimensional crystalline solids by slow compression of small aromatics may be a general phenomenon that enables chemical design of properties. The nitrogen in the carbon nitride nanothreads may improve processability, alters photoluminescence, and is predicted to reduce the bandgap.

High density mechanical energy storage with carbon nanothread bundle

“…The triangular lattice was constructed by first obtaining the equilibrium inter-tubular distance d 0 through a series of relaxation simulations under isothermal-isobaric ensemble 25 , that is, tuning the model with different initial distances in lateral and longitudinal directions and orientations. For nanothread-A, the inter-thread separation distance is~6.25 Å, which agrees well with previous simulation results and experimental measurements 20,48 . A larger d 0 of~7.25 Å was found for nanothread-C, which presumably is due to its helical morphology.…”

“…By turning the screw, the nanothread bundle will experience pure extension and thereby act as the mechanical energy storage system 1 . Considering the large variety of carbon nanothreads, nanothread derivatives (such as the carbon nitride nanothreads) 48 , and the huge variety of bundle configurations (with a mixture of threads of varying chirality), it is of great interest to carry out further experiments and theoretical works to explore the applications of carbon nanothread bundles for mechanical energy storage.…”

Pressure‐Induced Diels–Alder Reactions in C6H6‐C6F6 Cocrystal towards Graphane Structure

“…It is well known that benzene polymerizes into amorphous hydrogenated carbon under high pressure, and with anisotropic stress, a well‐ordered single‐crystal carbon nanothread was reported, which is recognized as an ultra‐thin sp 3 ‐carbon nanowire ,. Similarly, single‐crystal carbon nitride was synthesized by compressing pyridine slowly . Recently, it was reported that aniline forms diamond‐like polyaniline under external pressure and the hydrogen bond between the NH 2 groups is believed to be responsible for better crystallinity .…”

From Molecules to Carbon Materials—High Pressure Induced Polymerization and Bonding Mechanisms of Unsaturated Compounds

“…XRD data showed that the recovered samples contained a certain amount of crystalline components, but they did not identify specific substances [113]. Xiang Li et al recently obtained ordered sp 3 C 5 NH 5 carbon nitride nanothreads through the compression and decompression of pyridine [114]. The IR peak at 1117 cm −1 is identified as inter-ring C−N stretching, which suggests the polymerization of pyridine.…”