Concentration Of Nitrogen Atoms Research Articles

Effect of nitrogen on the electrical properties and growth mechanism of phosphorus-doped diamonds

De‑nitrogen-doped phosphorus and nitrogen‑phosphorus co-doped diamond single crystals were synthesized using the high pressure and high-temperature (HPHT) method at 6.0 GPa and 1450–1510 °C. The synthesis process was catalyzed using Fe80Ni20 as the catalyst of choice. The optical, mechanical, and electrical properties of the crystals were characterized. The effect of nitrogen atoms inside the diamond on a phosphorus-doped diamond was explored. The color of the diamond gradually became lighter with increasing Ti content, while the color of the crystal changed from yellow to dark green with increasing NaN3 content, and a large number of growth stripes and pits appeared on the surface. The infrared test showed that the addition of Ti reduced the concentration of nitrogen atoms inside the diamond, and the concentration of nitrogen atoms gradually increased with the addition of NaN3. Raman tests showed that the addition of Ti and NaN3 negatively affected the crystal quality. The X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy showed that phosphorus was successfully introduced into the diamond lattice in the form of CP and PO bonds under the conditions of nitrogen removal and nitrogen doping. Electrical tests showed that an n-type semiconducting diamond was successfully synthesized. However, the increase in nitrogen negatively affected the n-type conductivity.

Microstructure control and mechanical properties of ultra-nanocrystalline diamond films

Ultra-nanocrystalline diamond (UNCD) films exhibit excellent mechanical properties because of their unique structure, such as small grain size and high grain boundary ratio. The effect of nitrogen atoms in nitrogen-doped UNCD films on their structure and mechanical properties deserves in-depth study. In this study, we focus on the microstructure control of UNCD films and its effect on the mechanical properties. Ultra-nanocrystalline diamond films were prepared using microwave plasma chemical vapor deposition under varying nitrogen flow rates. It was observed that the hardness and elastic modulus of UNCD films initially increased and then decreased with the increase of nitrogen flow rate. The structure of UNCD films was characterized using transmission electron microscopy and the crystal quality was analyzed through Raman spectroscopy. Nitrogen-interstitial atom defects were identified in the photoluminescence spectra. These defects contribute to shorter interatomic bonds and enhance the covalent bonds in the crystalline structure, resulting in an increase in hardness. The sp2/sp3 ratio and effective nitrogen atom concentration in the UNCD film were analyzed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results indicate that an increase in the effective nitrogen atom concentration corresponds with a notable reduction in grain size, which is simultaneously accompanied by a rise in the number of grain boundaries. Meanwhile, the increase of sp2 content in the UNCD leads to the increase of grain boundary width and density, resulting in the increase of hardness and elastic modulus. This work provides theoretical basis and experimental guidance for the development of high performance UNCD films through precisely regulating the microstructure.

Efficient sulfidization-free flotation of chrysocolla enabled by specific synergistic effects of ammonium sulfate and octyl hydroxamic acid

Due to its poor sulfidization effect and environmental issues, the traditional sulfidization–xanthate method faces challenges in chrysocolla flotation. Addressing these, our study pioneers a sulfidization-free approach using ammonium sulfate as an activator in an octyl hydroxamic acid (OHA) collector system. This innovation propels flotation recovery from 34.10 % to an impressive 98.43 %. Infrared spectroscopy and adsorption tests confirm that ammonium sulfate improves OHA’s adsorption on chrysocolla. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis reveals a significant rise in C–C and C-N bonds related to OHA on the mineral surface post-activation. Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS) analysis shows a rougher mineral surface with filamentous precipitates and a higher surface nitrogen atom concentration. Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations elucidate NH3′s role in disrupting the hydration layer, exposing more Cu sites for enhanced OHA attachment. The Cu 2p shift observed on the mineral surface, along with state density analysis, further confirms the chemical adsorption of OHA on chrysocolla’s Cu sites facilitated by ammonium sulfate. This study introduces a novel NH3-enhanced OHA adsorption method, offering a promising strategy for the efficient flotation of chrysocolla.

Study of the structure, composition and wettability of the DLC:N films

Encoders are widely used for measurements of very small displacements, position and movement speed in metrology instruments, motion systems, and high-precision machining tools, ranging from digital calipers to coordinate measuring machines. Optical scales are the most accurate encoders. Their effectiveness at a near-dew point is limited, thus hydrophilic coatings are being developed for proper instrument functioning at these conditions. Here, we study wetting and structural properties of nitrogen-doped DLC (DLC:N) films, produced with reactive magnetron sputtering (RMS) and inductively coupled plasma (ICP) beam-assisted magnetron sputtering as potential coatings for optical scale technologies. The slope parameter of the DLC:N films increases as the nitrogen content increases. The toughness of DLC:N coatings changes between methods used and is higher for samples when the RMS growth method is used. The DLC:N wetting varies from 33° to 58.8° for different nitrogen content in the DLC films. The increase in atomic nitrogen concentration increases the number of nitrogen-based functional groups and should lessen the hydrophobic influence of the CH group on the contact angle. Furthermore, CO and OH functional groups' promote even higher contact angle decline, hence it seems that introducing oxygen-based groups, encourages hydrophilicity of DLC films.

Long term relationships of electron density with solar activity

Greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane that are causing climate change may cause long term trends in the thermosphere and ionosphere. The paper aims to contribute to explore long term effects in the ionosphere focusing on the impact of solar activity changes. Peak electron density data derived from vertical sounding measurements covering 65 years at the ionosonde stations Juliusruh (JR055), Boulder (BC840) and Kokubunji (TO536), have been utilized to estimate the long-term behavior of daytime ionospheric F2 layer ionization in relation to the solar 10.7 cm radio flux index F10.7. In parallel, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) based vertical total electron content (TEC) data over the ionosonde stations in combination with the peak electron density data have been used to derive the equivalent slab thickness τ for estimating long-term behavior in the time period 1996-2022. A new approach has been developed for deriving production and loss term proxies for studying long-term ionization effects from F2 layer peak electron density and TEC data. The derived coefficients allow estimating the long-term variation of atomic oxygen and molecular nitrogen concentrations including their ratio during winter months. The noon-time slab thickness values over Juliusruh correlate well with the decrease of F10.7 and the F2 layer peak height and enable estimating the neutral gas temperature. The equivalent slab thickness decreases by about 20 km per decade in the period 1996-2022, indicating a thermospheric cooling by about 100 K per decade for Juliusruh. Whereas the oxygen concentration decreases, the loss term, considered as a proxy for molecular components of the neutral gas, in particular N2, increases with the long-term solar activity variation. Considering 11 years averages of the production and loss terms under wintertime conditions, the long-term study reveals for the O/N2 ratio a percentage decrease of 5% per decade and for F10.7 about 3.1% per decade in a linear approach referred to the year 1970. Linear models of 11 years averaged NmF2 and foF2 from corresponding F10.7 show a very close correlation with the temporal variation of F10.7 until about 1990. The root mean square errors are in the order of 1.0 -1.3 ‧1010m-3 for NmF2 and 0.03-0.05 MHz for foF2. After 1990 the linear models clearly deviate from F10.7 at all selected ionosonde stations indicating a non-local effect.

The Effect of La on the Surface Properties of Plasma Nitrided CoCrCuFeNi High-Entropy Alloys at 440 Degrees Celsius

This paper investigates the effect of the element La on plasma nitriding of the CoCrCuFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA) at 440 °C for 8, 16, and 24 h. The phase composition, morphology, and hardness distribution of the nitrided layer are characterized using XRD, optical microscopy, and a microhardness tester. Furthermore, the corrosion resistance is tested using an electrochemical workstation. The study evaluated the friction and wear performance using a testing machine and scanning electron microscope. The thickness of the effective hardening layer after 16 h of treatment with La was similar to that after 24 h of treatment without La. The addition of La significantly increased the growth rate constant of the effective hardening layer from 0.53 × 10−14 m2/s to 0.72 × 10−14 m2/s. In addition, an expanded FCC phase with greater interplanar spacing can be formed on the surface of the sample by introducing La into the plasma nitriding process. This indicates that the expanded FCC phase, with a higher concentration of interstitial nitrogen atoms, can effectively improve the corrosion resistance of the specimen surface. The corrosion rate of the specimen surface was reduced by 27.5% and the wear rate was reduced by 41.7% after 16 h of treatment with the addition of La compared to 24 h of nitriding without the addition of La. It has been shown that the addition of La to the plasma nitriding process results in a higher quality nitrided layer in a shorter time and also demonstrates that La has the potential to optimize the surface properties of plasma nitrided HEAs.

Concentration measurements of atomic nitrogen in an atmospheric-pressure RF plasma jet using a picosecond TALIF

The absolute concentration and spatial distribution of ground-state atomic nitrogen (N) in an atmospheric pressure plasma jet were measured using the two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence. The jet was ignited by radio frequency voltage in argon (or argon with nitrogen admixture) flowing through a silica tube. The spatially resolved measurements of atomic nitrogen concentration were realized in the effluent of the jet. In a pure argon plasma, the N concentration was increased with the distance from the silica tube and reached the maximum value ( 3.5⋅1014 cm−3) at the distance of 15 mm, and then sharply decreased at the end of the plume. On the contrary, plasma ignited in Ar with nitrogen admixture, the maximum N concentration was located directly at the end of the silica tube, where plasma starts to blow out into the ambient air. The highest N concentrations for 0.5% and 2% of N2 in the feed gas were 1.3⋅1015 cm−3 and 4⋅1015 cm−3, respectively.

Effects of wall temperature and water vapor on the nitriding of stainless steel induced by ammonia flames

Ammonia is considered a promising alternative fuel for reducing CO2 emissions. However, the nitriding effect induced by ammonia flames poses a significant challenge that hinders its practical application in various industries. In the present study, to investigate the effects of temperature on the nitriding of stainless steel induced by ammonia flames, experiments were conducted by exposing SUS310S test plates to ammonia flames at different wall temperatures ranging from 550 °C to 850 °C. The distributions of chemical species in ammonia flames were obtained experimentally by means of the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique and chemiluminescence measurement. Numerical simulations were also performed to estimate the ammonia flame structures with the consideration of surface reaction on the wall. In addition, the distributions of surface hardness and nitrogen atom concentration in the wall material were quantified by employing a nano-indenter and wavelength dispersive spectroscopy method (WDS), respectively. The LIF data for NH and NH3 concentration are in good agreement with the numerical results, highlighting the necessity of considering the surface reaction to accurately estimate the ammonia flame structure near the wall. It is also observed that both the surface hardness and the diffusion depth of nitrogen atoms into the wall decrease with increasing wall temperature, indicating a weakened nitriding effect at high wall temperatures. Notably, the NH3 concentration at the wall surface was identified as the most dominant parameter for the nitriding effect, while NH2 radicals also partially contribute to the nitriding. It is also found that the water vapor also hinders the nitriding.

Coherent and incoherent phonon transport in periodic nitrogen-doped graphene

Nitrogen-doped graphene materials hold significant promise for diverse applications owing to their exceptional electrical properties and the tunability of thermal conductivity. Therefore, the non-equilibrium molecular dynamics simulations were used to explore the phonon transport properties of nitrogen-doped graphene nanoribbons. The findings indicate that periodic doping with a small quantity of nitrogen atoms can induce coherent phonon transport, thereby resulting in a substantial reduction in thermal conductivity. Our analysis delves into various phonon and energy transport parameters, including the phonon dispersion relation, group velocity, state density, participation rate, and spectral heat flow. Through this examination, we have elucidated the coexistence and transformation mechanisms of both coherent and incoherent phonon transport under different conditions. Furthermore, our findings revealed a notable trend: once the concentration of nitrogen atoms in the doped atomic layer reaches 37.5%, the reduction in thermal conductivity attains its maximum effectiveness. Beyond this concentration, further increases in the nitrogen atom concentration result in diminishing returns, rendering the reduction in thermal conductivity ineffective.

Evaluation of UV photofunctionalization effect on ultrastructural properties of SLA titanium disks: An in vitro study.

The success rate of dental implants diminishes over time; the lack of osseointegration and infection are the major causes of most implant failures. One of the effective methods to improve the surface properties is to irradiate ultraviolet (UV) light. This study investigated the effect of UV photofunctionalization on the ultrasuperficial properties of sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) titanium discs. In this in vitro study, 24 sandblasted and acid-etched titanium discs, with a lifespan of more than four weeks, were categorized into three groups (n=8): control, ultraviolet C (UVC), and ultraviolet B (UVB). Then, they were exposed to a UV light source for 48 hours at a 1-cm distance. In addition to measuring the contact angle between the liquid and the disc surface in each of the three groups, the atomic concentrations of carbon, oxygen, and nitrogen atoms were measured at three different sites on each disc. One-way ANOVA and post hoc Tukey tests were used to analyze data. The mean concentration of carbon atoms significantly differed in the control, UVC, and UVB groups (P<0.001). The mean concentrations of nitrogen atoms differed significantly between the three groups (P<0.001). However, the mean concentrations of oxygen atoms were not significantly different between the three groups. In examining the contact angle, wettability was higher in the UVC group than in the UVB group and higher in the UBV group than in the control group. Photofunctionalization with UV light significantly decreased carbon and nitrogen concentrations on the surface of titanium implants, indicating that the implant's superficial hydrocarbons were eliminated. It was observed that UVC photofunctionalization was more effective than UVB photofunctionalization in reducing superficial contamination and improving wettability.

FAME properties, bio-oil productivity and carbon yield coefficient of Chlorella sorokiniana grown with low and high initial nitrogen concentrations

In this work the effect of the initial nitrogen concentration on the fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) properties namely the saponification number (SN), the iodine value (IV), the cetane number (CN) and the higher heating value (HHV) of bio-oil produced by Chlorella sorokiniana was examined. Also, the lipid and protein content of the biomass of C. sorokiniana and the biomass yield were measured. Anaerobic digestate and glycerol were used to formulate the culture media. The initial concentration of atomic nitrogen varied in the four cultivations and it was equal to 108.2 mg/l, 300 mg/l, 800 mg/l and 2000 mg/l while the initial concentration of carbon was held constant and equal to 13.99 ± 0.1 g/l. As the initial nitrogen concentration was increased, the lipid content decreased while the protein content and the biomass yield increased. Fatty acids (FA) from C10:0 to C26:1 were produced, however, the fatty acids that were found in the highest percentage were C16:0, C16:1, C18:1 and C18: 2. With respect to saturation, monosaturated FA were predominant in all treatments constituting from 55.9% to 59.4% of the total FA, while significant percentages of saturated FA were produced ranging from 24.5% to about 31.1%. With respect to the chain length, medium chain FA predominate constituting from 59.5% to 81.3% of the total FA. The four measured FAME properties, with the exception of the cetane number (CN) for the No = 2000 mg, were within acceptable limits. It was shown that when the nitrogen concentration in the medium increases, while the carbon concentration remains constant, the biomass carbon yield coefficient increases substantially.

Nitriding Effects of Ammonia Flames on Iron-based Metal Walls

Effects of NH3/O2/N2 premixed flame/mixture on iron-based metal walls have been investigated experimentally. A premixed NH3/O2/N2 flame or mixture formed by a quartz tube burner impinged on the disc-shaped metal test plate, of which the temperature was kept at 550 oC by an infrared lamp heater. As materials for the test plate, SACM645, SUS304 and SUS310S, which are widely used as industrial steels, were examined. After being exposed to either the NH3/O2/N2 flame or mixture for 5 hours, the surface hardness was measured by using a nano indenter. Distributions of nitrogen atom diffused into the metal wall were measured by means of the Electron Probe Micro Analyzer (EPMA) and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). In addition, spatial distributions of the NH3 concentration in the NH3/O2/N2 flame and mixture were measured by employing a two-photon absorption laser-induced fluorescence (TALIF) technique. It was found that the surface hardness of the test plates increased significantly after being exposed to the NH3/O2/N2 flame/mixture. The distributions of surface hardness and nitrogen atom concentration show that nitriding occurred by the present NH3/O2/N2 flame/mixture with the equivalent level of the conventional gas nitriding method. Moreover, it is also found that NH3 concentration in the vicinity of the wall plays an important role in the surface hardness increase, and a wider distribution of NH3 can result in a broader surface hardness distribution.

Effect of pressure on large size diamond single crystal synthesized by temperature gradient method under low nitrogen condition

Pressure is a vital condition in the synthesis of diamond crystals via the temperature gradient method. Exploring the effect of pressure on the growth of diamond crystals is vital. In this study, we investigated the synthesis of diamond crystals using iron–nickel alloy catalysts and analyzed the properties of the synthesized diamonds in the pressure gradient using a China-type large-volume cubic high-pressure apparatus. The synthesis temperature of 1600 K and pressure range of 5.5–6.5 GPa were used. The results of Raman spectra showed that increasing the pressure would increase the crystallinity of diamond crystals. The FTIR spectra of diamond samples featured peaks at 1332 (N+ ions), 1130, and 1344 cm−1, indicating that with increasing pressure, the concentration of nitrogen atoms and ions in diamonds significantly decreased. The photoluminescence spectra of nitrogen ions in diamond samples displayed a peak at 40–100 ppm. The 692 and 694 nm peaks and the phonon bands of NV-chromophores gradually weakened with increasing pressure, indicating that the 692 and 694 nm peaks are attributable to the NV-color center and phonon displacement energy of 165 meV occurred. The Electron paramagnetic resonance spectra displayed a phonon bands of the NV-color center phonon are expressed in EPR through the g-value of NV- .These test results indicated that the pressure featured a significant effect on the nitrogen concentration and the nitrogen-related defects in diamonds.

Catalytic gas nitriding of M50NiL steel by LaFeO3 pervoskite oxide under low-pressure conditions

To generalize the application of the LaFeO3 oxide in catalytic nitriding of steels, the M50NiL steel, a typical high-alloy bearing steel, was nitrided under low-pressure conditions. The catalytic effect of the LaFeO3 oxide on nitriding kinetics of M50NiL steel was evaluated and a new understanding of the catalytic mechanism was proposed. The microstructure, phase composition, surface morphologies and depth of nitrided layers were characterized by optical microscope, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope and microhardness tester, respectively. The wear resistance of nitrided layers was evaluated by a pin-on-disk wear tester and the chemical bonds on nitrided surfaces were identified by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy to analyze the process of nitriding reactions. The results show that the LaFeO3 catalytic nitriding was suitable for M50NiL steel. The LaFeO3 catalytic nitriding could dramatically improve the toughness of nitrided layer via the suppression of nitrides formation. The adsorption and decomposition of NHx species on the LaFeO3 oxide were alternatively occurred on La-O terminated surfaces and Fe-O terminated surfaces, resulting in the fluctuate nitrogen concentration and rapid diffusion of active nitrogen atoms. The nitriding kinetics greatly depended on the oxidation state of nitrided surfaces. Namely higher oxidation capacity corresponded to higher nitriding efficiency.

Effects of Polystyrene Diet on the Growth and Development of Tenebrio molitor.

In recent years, the role of Tenebrio molitor in degrading polystyrene foam through its gut microbes has become the focus of research. However, little literature has reported the effect of feeding on polystyrene foam on the growth and development of Tenebrio molitor. In this study, we investigated the impacts of different polystyrene by evaluating the vital signs of Tenebrio molitor fed in the intestines and excrement fluids using RNA-Seq t.echnology and then verifying the transcriptome sequencing findings using qRT-PCR technology. The average weight of Tenebrio molitor larvae in the wheat bran group increased significantly. Tenebrio molitor larvae in the PS group, on the other hand, didn’t grow as much and had a much lower average weight than those in the wheat bran group. Compared to the bran group, the excrement of Tenebrio molitor fed only on polystyrene foam was flaky and coarse, increased nitrogen and phosphorus atomic concentration ratios by about 50%, decreased potassium atomic concentration ratios by 63%, with the enterocytes and circular muscle of Tenebrio molitor falling as well. Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes enrichment indicated that the differential genes were mainly related to metabolic pathways. There was an agreement between qRT-PCR and RNA-Seq analyses for the growth and development genes chitinase, heat shock protein 70, and cytochrome P450. Only feeding polystyrene foam shall lead to the growth and development retardation of Tenebrio molitor.

Spectroscopic study on alternative plasmonic TiN-NRs film prepared by R-HiPIMS with GLAD technique

In this study, we investigate the structural and optical property of alternative plasmonic titanium nitride nanorods (TiN-NRs) films. The TiN-NRs films were deposited by reactive high-power impulse magnetron sputtering (R-HiPIMS) with glancing angle deposition (GLAD) technique at room temperature. The effect of operating pressure on the film crystalline and morphology have been characterized by grazing-incident X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and field-emission scanning electron microscope (FE-SEM). The sputtered TiN films contain the nanocolumnar structure with the cubic crystalline structure. The optical property, as well as real and imaginary parts of the dielectric function, were measured by the spectroscopic ellipsometry technique. The atomic concentration and distribution of nitrogen atoms were examined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. In addition, the TiN-NRs films show the great potential of promising in surface-enhanced fluorescence substrate application.

Influence of air and water vapor on EEDF, plasma parameters, and the main RONS in atmospheric pressure low temperature helium plasmas: Global model approach

A zero-dimensional global model is developed with an aim to study the influence of air and water vapor on an electron energy distribution function, electron density, and temperature as well as on the chemical composition of atmospheric pressure helium plasmas, with special focus on the main reactive oxygen and nitrogen species important for applications of low temperature plasmas. The main channels for the production and consumption of electrons and electron energy gain and loss are examined by a global model based on a parametric study with variations of the mole fractions of air and water vapor. The calculations are done for 100, 1000, and 10 000 ppm of air in plasma, and for each of these values, the content of water vapor is taken to be 100, 1000, 2000, …, to 10 000 ppm. The variations of the most important production and consumption processes for reactive oxygen and nitrogen species are analyzed in detail. According to the results presented in this paper, water vapor highly contributes to electronegativity of the plasma through pronounced attachment of electrons, which then leads to an increase in electron temperature. For high water vapor content, vibrational excitations of water molecules are one of the main electron energy loss processes, leading to a further effect on the plasma composition. Water decreases concentrations of atomic oxygen, nitrogen, and ozone, while there is an increase in nitrogen oxide, OH, H2O2, and HO2 concentrations. Cross-sectional data for electron scattering on ground and excited state neutrals are mainly taken from the Quantemol-DB database.

Modulation of the electronic and magnetic properties of pyridinic N-doped graphene with Ni/Cr

We have explored the interaction of Ni/Cr with pyridinic N-doped graphene and its influence on the electronic and magnetic characteristics of graphene using a density functional theory (DFT) approach. A [Formula: see text] graphene supercell with a single vacancy is modeled. Initially, the concentration of nitrogen atoms is varied in the pyridinic configuration of graphene. The structures, thus obtained, are decorated with Ni/Cr atoms. For configurations without transition metals (TMs), the calculated electronic band structures show a downward shift in Fermi level that decreases as nitrogen concentration increases. Furthermore, it is found that these structures manifest metallic behavior along with some flat bands near the Fermi level. With the addition of Ni/Cr atoms, the movement of the Fermi level toward the conduction band is noticed. The opening of the bandgap at the K-point also varies slightly with the concentration of N atoms and/or the presence of TM atoms. The structures P1N-Ni and P2N-Ni transmute into semiconductors. A significant increase in the magnetic moment is found with the adsorption of the Ni/Cr atom. The analysis of spin-polarized partial density of states proves that higher magnetic moments following TM absorption are mainly on account of the Ni/Cr-3d orbitals and their hybridization with C-2p orbitals. These findings suggest that functionalizing TMs on pyridinic N (Nitrogen)-doped graphene can drastically alter their electronic and magnetic properties.

High degree of N-functionalization in macroscopically assembled carbon nanotubes

Nitrogen doping of carbon nanomaterials has emerged as a method to develop novel material properties, though limitations in the form of extended treatment times, harsh chemical usage and limited total nitrogen content exist. Here, macroscopic ribbon-like assemblies of carbon nanotubes are functionalized with nitrogen using a simple direct current-based plasma–liquid system. This system utilizes the plasma-generated species in an ethanol:water solution with ethylenediamine as a nitrogen precursor for the nitrogen functionalization of the carbon nanotube assembly. These unique, plasma-generated species and pathways enable rapid and high levels of functionalization with the atomic concentration of nitrogen reaching 22.5%, with amine groups, pyrrolic groups and graphitic nitrogen observed in the X-ray photoelectron spectra, the highest ever achieved. This nitrogen content is demonstrated to be significantly higher than a comparative electrolysis process. This demonstrates that this plasma process enhances the availability of nitrogen from the ethylenediamine precursor, facilitating greater functionalization.Graphical abstract

Model Estimate of the Height of the Lower Limit of Integration when Obtaining the Ratio of the Concentrations of Atomic Oxygen and Molecular Nitrogen, n(O)/n(N2), According to the Timed Guvi Observation Technique

Model Estimate of the Height of the Lower Limit of Integration when Obtaining the Ratio of the Concentrations of Atomic Oxygen and Molecular Nitrogen, n(O)/n(N2), According to the Timed Guvi Observation Technique