This method involves ball milling of high-purity graphite powders down to an amorphous nanoscale size under an argon atmosphere.
The high pressure and intense motion promotes catalytic dissociation of NH3 molecules into monatomic nitrogen on the fractured surface of the carbon.
[6] Rather than forming a powder or nanorod, the carbon nitride compound can alternatively be formed in thin amorphous films by either shock-wave compression technology, pyrolysis of high nitrogen content precursors, diode sputtering, solvothermal preparation, pulsed laser ablation, or ion implantation.
[6] Although extensive studies on the process and synthesis of the formed carbon nitride have been reported, the nitrogen concentration of the compound tends to be below the ideal composition for C3N4.
The commercial exploitation of nanopowders is very limited by the high synthesis cost along with difficult methods of production that causes a low yield.