Effect of synthesis conditions on the properties of graphene doped with nitrogen atoms

Graphene doped with nitrogen atoms (N-graphene) was prepared by the template method. Magnesium oxide was subjected to carbonization in the 40% NH3–1% C2H2–C2H4 mixture at 650–750 °C. Then, the MgO core of the prepared N–С/MgO composite was dissolved by treatment in hydrochloric acid. The effects of temperature and synthesis time on the properties of the obtained N-graphene were studied by electron microscopy, Raman spectroscopy, XPS and XRD. The aggregates consisted of N-graphene particles with globular shape reflecting the template method used for their synthesis. The size of the carbon globules was about 30–50 nm. According to the chemical mapping data, C, O and N atoms were uniformly distributed in N-graphene within the analysis area. An increase of the synthesis temperature from 650 to 750 °C led to the decrease of the sample defectiveness, nitrogen atom concentration and surface area of N-graphene.