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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Polymers

Urea-Derived Carbon Nitride Fragmentation: A Route to Melem-Based Superstructures

  • Milica V. Carević1
  • Nadica D. Abazović1
  • Zorica D. Mojović2
  • Jugoslav B. Krstić2
  • Miloš D. Mojović3
  • Tatjana D. Vulić1
  • Mirjana I. Čomor1
  1. 1Vinča Institute of Nuclear Sciences, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, Mike Petrovića Alasa 12–14, Vinča, 11351 Belgrade, Serbia
  2. 2University of Belgrade, Institute of Chemistry, Technology and Metallurgy, Department of Catalysis and Chemical Engineering, Njegoševa 12, 11000 Belgrade, Serbia
  3. 3Center for Physical Chemistry of Biological Systems, BioScope Labs, Faculty of Physical Chemistry, University of Belgrade, Studentski trg 12–16, 11158 Belgrade, Serbia
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Abstract

Urea-derived graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) underwent chemical treatment in a strongly oxidizing H2SO4/HNO3/H2O2 environment, followed by dialysis against water. XRD and SEM measurements revealed significant disruption of the layered polymeric framework, including loss of hydrogen-bond-mediated order, partial depolymerization into melem-based units, and the formation of rod-like melem hydrate superstructures. FTIR spectra indicated that chemical treatment resulted in the loss of the heptazine structure and the emergence of melem/triazine vibrations. Consistent disruption of the C–N framework was also observed in XPS spectra, which showed a reduced contribution of nitrogen species associated with inter-triazine bridging. Mott–Schottky analysis yielded potential values suggesting the presence of additional electronic states in the chemically treated sample. This aligns with EPR spin-trapping results, which showed approximately a 2.5-fold decrease in superoxide radical anion generation upon visible light irradiation compared with the parent compound, attributed to both reduced visible-light absorption and trapping of photogenerated electrons in defect states.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{carevic2026ureaderived,
  title = {{Urea-Derived Carbon Nitride Fragmentation: A Route to Melem-Based Superstructures}},
  author = {Milica V. Carević and Nadica D. Abazović and Zorica D. Mojović and Jugoslav B. Krstić and Miloš D. Mojović and Tatjana D. Vulić and Mirjana I. Čomor},
  journal = {Polymers},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.3390/polym18212664},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2664},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Urea-Derived Carbon Nitride Fragmentation: A Route to Melem-Based Superstructures
AU  - Milica V. Carević
AU  - Nadica D. Abazović
AU  - Zorica D. Mojović
AU  - Jugoslav B. Krstić
AU  - Miloš D. Mojović
AU  - Tatjana D. Vulić
AU  - Mirjana I. Čomor
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/28
JO  - Polymers
DO  - 10.3390/polym18212664
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4360/18/21/2664
AB  - Urea-derived graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) underwent chemical treatment in a strongly oxidizing H2SO4/HNO3/H2O2 environment, followed by dialysis against water. XRD and SEM measurements revealed significant disruption of the layered polymeric framework, including loss of hydrogen-bond-mediated order, partial depolymerization into melem-based units, and the formation of rod-like melem hydrate superstructures. FTIR spectra indicated that chemical treatment resulted in the loss of the heptazine structure and the emergence of melem/triazine vibrations. Consistent disruption of the C–N framework was also observed in XPS spectra, which showed a reduced contribution of nitrogen species associated with inter-triazine bridging. Mott–Schottky analysis yielded potential values suggesting the presence of additional electronic states in the chemically treated sample. This aligns with EPR spin-trapping results, which showed approximately a 2.5-fold decrease in superoxide radical anion generation upon visible light irradiation compared with the parent compound, attributed to both reduced visible-light absorption and trapping of photogenerated electrons in defect states.
SN  - 2073-4360
ER  -