Carbon nitride nanocomposites: Formation of aligned CxNy nanofibers

Communication: The preparation of carbon nitride nanotubes has proved extre mely difficult-to date only small quantities of nitrogen (less than or equa l to 5%) have been incorporated into carbon nanotubes or filaments and the synthesis of crystalline C3N4 and CN nanotubes with their interesting predi cted properties remains a challenge for the future. Now the generation of a ligned C13Nx (x less than or equal to 1) nanofibers in high yield by pyroly zing melamine over laser-patterned thin films of Fe and Ni catalyst deposit ed on a silica substrate is reported. The resulting aligned, hollow thin-wa lled fibers exhibit unusual graphitic corrugated morphologies. The authors suggest that pyrolysis of organic precursors containing N (e.g., melamine) may provide an additional route to CN nanostructures.