Cubic gauche polymeric nitrogen under ambient conditions

Authors

El Mostafa Benchafia, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Zhenhua Yao, Newark College of Engineering
Gu Yuan, New Jersey Institute of Technology
Tsengmin Chou, Stevens Institute of Technology
Hong Piao, General Electric Company
Xianqin Wang, Newark College of Engineering
Zafar Iqbal, New Jersey Institute of Technology

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

12-1-2017

Abstract

The long-sought cubic gauche phase of polymeric nitrogen (cg-PN) with nitrogen-nitrogen single bonds has been synthesized together with a related phase by a radio-frequency plasma reaction under near-ambient conditions. Here, we report the synthesis of polymeric nitrogen using a mixture of nitrogen and argon flowing over bulk β-sodium azide or β-sodium azide dispersed on 100 nm long multiwall carbon nanotubes. The cg-PN phase is identified by Raman and attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and powder X-ray diffraction. The synthesis of the cubic gauche allotrope of high energy density polymeric nitrogen under near-ambient conditions should therefore enable its optimized production and applications as a "green" energetic material and a potential catalyst for different chemical reactions.

Identifier

85031696040 (Scopus)

Publication Title

Nature Communications

External Full Text Location

https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-01083-5

e-ISSN

20411723

PubMed ID

29030605

Issue

1

Volume

8

Grant

CBET 1231682

Fund Ref

National Science Foundation

Recommended Citation

Benchafia, El Mostafa; Yao, Zhenhua; Yuan, Gu; Chou, Tsengmin; Piao, Hong; Wang, Xianqin; and Iqbal, Zafar, "Cubic gauche polymeric nitrogen under ambient conditions" (2017). Faculty Publications. 9157.
https://digitalcommons.njit.edu/fac_pubs/9157