Formation of Cubic Phase Carbon Nitride Solid by Low Energy Nitrogen Implantation into Graphite

The formation of carbon nitrogen solid by the low energy nitrogen implantation is investigated. Room temperature implantation of nitrogen into the graphite was performed, and small precipitates with a diameter of 50 nm were observed in the graphite. The precipitates consist of carbon and nitrogen based upon the analysis of electron spectroscopic imaging. The carbon nitride solid has a zinc-blende structure with a lattice parameter of 0.34 nm. The results suggest that the cubic phase C3N4, which has a defect zinc-blende structure with the lattice parameter of 0.343 nm, is formed in the graphite by the nitrogen implantation.