C2N

C2N
Name	C2N
Caption	Structural representation of C2N-like network
Formula	C2N

C2N

Overview

C2N is an empirical stoichiometry used to describe carbon–nitrogen frameworks related to materials investigated in contexts involving Graphene, Graphite, Fullerene, Carbon nanotube, and Graphene oxide research. It appears in literature alongside studies from institutions such as MIT, Stanford University, Max Planck Society, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and University of California, Berkeley. Discussions of C2N intersect with work on Boron nitride, Transition metal dichalcogenide, Porous carbon, Covalent organic framework, and Metal–organic framework classes. Researchers published on C2N in journals including Nature, Science, Advanced Materials, Journal of the American Chemical Society, and Angewandte Chemie.

Chemistry and Properties

The stoichiometry denotes frameworks combining sp2-hybridized Carbon and Nitrogen atoms arranged in periodic or quasi-periodic networks reminiscent of motifs found in Hexagonal boron nitride and Porphyrin-derived lattices. Reported electronic descriptions reference band structures comparable to those studied in Dirac cone systems such as Graphene and in semiconducting materials like Black phosphorus and Molybdenum disulfide. Magnetic and catalytic properties are analyzed using approaches developed for Density functional theory, Hartree–Fock method, GW approximation, and Dynamical mean field theory computations. Optical responses are compared with experiments on Photoluminescence from Perovskite (material), Quantum dot, and Carbon quantum dot research. Mechanical characteristics are evaluated relative to Diamond, Graphene oxide, Kevlar, and Carbon fiber benchmarks.

Synthesis and Production Methods

Synthetic strategies for C2N-type materials build on protocols used by research groups at Tsinghua University, Columbia University, ETH Zurich, and Imperial College London. Typical routes include bottom-up organic synthesis using building blocks inspired by Porphyrin, Phthalocyanine, and Pyridine chemistry under conditions reported in Solvothermal reaction and Chemical vapor deposition studies. Templates and precursor strategies echo methods from Hard template synthesis and Soft templating (materials) used in Activated carbon and Ordered mesoporous carbon production. Post-synthetic treatments employ thermal annealing protocols adapted from Pyrolysis routines used for Graphitic carbon nitride and Carbon nitride materials, with dopants introduced analogous to approaches for Nitrogen-doped graphene and Boron-doped graphene. Scale-up and pilot production draw on infrastructure comparable to facilities at Argonne National Laboratory, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, and Fraunhofer Society pilot plants.

Applications and Uses

C2N-like frameworks are explored for heterogeneous catalysis in reactions historically investigated with Platinum-, Palladium- and Ruthenium-based systems, including oxygen reduction reaction studies tied to Proton exchange membrane fuel cell research. Energy storage applications relate to work on Lithium-ion battery, Sodium-ion battery, Supercapacitor, and Lithium–sulfur battery technologies. Adsorption and separation uses reference benchmarks from Zeolite, Activated carbon, and Metal–organic framework literature for gas capture of Carbon dioxide, Methane, and Hydrogen. Photocatalytic and photoelectrochemical implementations connect to advances in Solar cell and Water splitting research established by groups at Caltech, National Renewable Energy Laboratory, and University of Cambridge. Sensor and electronic device concepts take cues from Field-effect transistor, Organic light-emitting diode, and Photodetector development.

Safety and Environmental Impact

Toxicological and environmental assessments leverage methodologies from Environmental Protection Agency guidelines and studies performed by World Health Organization panels and national agencies including European Chemicals Agency. Concerns follow patterns similar to those for nanocarbon materials studied at National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, United States Environmental Protection Agency, and Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development testing programs. Persistence, bioaccumulation, and inhalation risk analyses reference protocols used for Carbon nanotube and Graphene exposure studies conducted at Harvard University and University of Cambridge. Life-cycle considerations examine parallels with assessments of Lithium-ion battery materials and Rare earth element supply chains analyzed by International Energy Agency.

Research and Development

Active R&D spans collaborations among groups at Riken, CEA (French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission), Seoul National University, University of Tokyo, and industrial partners such as BASF, Dow Chemical Company, and Samsung Advanced Institute of Technology. Ongoing topics include defect engineering inspired by Stone–Wales defect studies, heteroatom patterning analogous to N-doped graphene work, and integration into devices following strategies from Printed electronics and Flexible electronics research. Conferences and symposiums where C2N materials appear include sessions at American Chemical Society, Materials Research Society, Gordon Research Conferences, and International Conference on Nanoscience and Technology. Future trajectories are informed by translational models used in commercialization of Graphene Flagship projects and pilot-scale demonstrations at European Research Council-funded centers.

Category:Carbon–nitrogen materials