Work

Observation of crystalline C3 N4

Year: 1994

Type: article

Abstract: We present strong experimental evidence suggesting that we have synthesized the \ensuremath{\beta}-${\mathrm{C}}_{3}$${\mathrm{N}}_{4}$ phase. This is a material predicted by theory to have bulk moduli comparable to diamond. Thin films containing small crystals were deposited on Si and Ge wafers by rf diode sputtering of a pure graphite target with pure ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$. The crystal structure of these phases was investigated using x-ray and electron-beam diffractometry as well as transmission electron microscopy. Our results indicate that the \ensuremath{\beta}-${\mathrm{C}}_{3}$${\mathrm{N}}_{4}$ particles with typical dimensions of \ensuremath{\sim}0.5 \ensuremath{\mu}m are embedded in a 1-\ensuremath{\mu}m-thick layer of a C-N polymer. These particles are believed to crystallize preferentially on Si (100) wafers.

Source: Physical review. B, Condensed matter

DOI: 10.1103/physrevb.49.5034

Authors: Kin Man Yu, Marvin L. Cohen, E. E. Haller, W. L. Hansen, Amy Y. Liu, I. C. Wu

Institutions: Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of California, Berkeley

Language: English

Topic: Boron and Carbon Nanomaterials Research

Subfield: Materials Chemistry

Field: Materials Science

Domain: Physical Sciences

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, Division of Materials Research, Basic Energy Sciences