A comprehensive study on the characteristic spectroscopic features of nitrogen doped graphene

Despite significant methodical improvements in the synthesis of N-doped graphene, there are still unsolved questions regarding the control of content and the configuration of nitrogen species in graphene honeycomb network. A cross-examination of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy findings indicates that the nitrogen dopant amount is graphene thicknesses dependent, but the various nitrogen dopant coordination can be obtained on both double- and few-layer graphene. Characteristic defect features (D′) appearing in Raman spectra upon N-doping is sensitive to nitrogen dopant coordination, graphitic-pyridinic/nitrilic species and therefore the doping level can be identified. Pyridinic and nitrilic nitrogen as primary species turn graphene to p-type semiconductor after a mild thermal treatment.