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One-step facile growth of nitrogen-doped graphene nanowalls by catalyst-free thermal chemical vapor deposition

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journal contribution
posted on 2023-11-20, 16:20 authored by Thanattha Chobsilp, Thotsaphon Threrujirapapong, Visittapong Yordsri, Tuksadon Wutikhun, Alongkot Treetong, Worawut Muangrat

We report an effective technique for the growth of graphene nanowalls (GNWs) and nitrogen-doped graphene nanowalls (N-GNWs) using a thermal chemical vapor deposition (TCVD) on the catalyst-free substrate. Ethanol and mixed ethanol-imidazole were used as carbon and carbon-nitrogen sources for the growth of GNWs and N-GNWs, respectively. The effect of imidazole concentration on the morphology, nanostructure, crystal structure, crystallinity, chemical bonding and chemical structure of GNWs and N-GNWs were investigated by scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. Focused ion beam combined with TEM was utilized to analyze the growth mechanism. The results show that GNWs and N-GNWs are vertically oriented graphene nanosheets on in-plane-oriented graphitic layer/carbon nanolayer. An increase in imidazole concentration from 2.5 to 5.0 wt% increases the nitrogen content in the N-GNWs from 1.24 to 2.61 at%. The incorporated nitrogen atoms are mainly graphitic-N. One-step facile growth of N-GNWs by TCVD method without the need for a metal catalyst and plasma system was achieved.

Funding

This work was supported by the Research and Development Grant of the Faculty of Engineering (WJP. 1/2566), Burapha University.

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