Microporous Carbon Nitride (C3N5.4) with Tetrazine based Molecular Structure for Efficient Adsorption of CO2 and Water

Mesoporous carbon nitrides with C3N5 and C3N6 stoichiometries created a new momentum in the field of organic metal-free semiconductors owing to their unique band structures and high basicity. Here, we report on the preparation of a novel graphitic microporous carbon nitride with a tetrazine based chemical structure and the composition of C3N5.4 using ultra-stable Y zeolite as the template and aminoguanidine hydrochloride, a high nitrogen-containing molecule, as the CN precursor. Spectroscopic characterization and density functional theory calculations reveal that the prepared material exhibits a new molecular structure, which comprises two tetrazines and one triazine rings in the unit cell and is thermodynamically stable. The resultant carbon nitride shows an outstanding surface area of 130.4 m(2) g(-1) and demonstrates excellent CO2 adsorption per unit surface area of 47.54 mu mol m(-2), which is due to the existence of abundant free NH2 groups, basic sites and microporosity. The material also exhibits highly selective sensing over water molecules (151.1 mmol g(-1)) and aliphatic hydrocarbons due to its unique microporous structure with a high amount of hydrophilic nitrogen moieties and recognizing ability towards small molecules.

Automated summary

The preparation of a novel graphitic microporous carbon nitride with a tetrazine-based chemical structure and the composition of C3N5.4 using ultra-stable Y zeolite as a template and aminoguanidine hydrochloride as the CN precursor has been reported. The material exhibits a unique molecular structure with two tetrazines and one triazine rings, as well as outstanding CO2 adsorption, selective sensing over water molecules and aliphatic hydrocarbons.