Plasma‐Enhanced Chemical‐Vapor‐Deposition Synthesis of Photoredox‐Active Nitrogen‐Doped Carbon from NH3 and CH4 Gases

Earth's primordial atmosphere was rich in ammonia and methane. To understand the evolution of the atmosphere, these two gases were used to make photoredox-active nitrogen-doped carbon (NDC). Photocatalysts such as NDC might play an important role in the development of geological and atmospheric chemistry during the Archean era. This study describes the synthesis of NDC directly from NH3 and CH4 gases. The photocatalyst product can be used to selectively synthesize imines by photo-oxidization of amines, producing H2 O2 simultaneously in the photoreduction reaction. Our findings shed light on the chemical evolution of the Earth.