Synthesis of polymeric nitrogen with non-thermal radio frequency plasma

Polymeric nitrogen (PN) is potentially a green catalytic material due to its Lewis base property, and a high-energy density material (HEDM) due to its considerable energy storage and the environment-friendly decomposition product, nitrogen gas. Most research has focused on theoretical studies and various structures were proposed, while a few successful experiments were carried out. Plasma technology, as a viable synthesis technique for materials, may provide new possibilities for polymeric nitrogen. In this review, the polymeric nitrogen study, the plasma technology, and its potential catalytic applications for polymeric nitrogen synthesis are reviewed and summarized. Polymeric nitrogen synthesis requires extremely high temperature and high pressure with traditional thermal method and is thermodynamically unstable, while some PNs exhibit excellent catalytic activity. High pressure, cations and substrates are important for polymeric nitrogen synthesis and stabilization. Plasma processes, full of energetically active particles, can operate under mild conditions and is very good for temperature-sensitive materials. Thus, plasma has a promising potential application for polymeric nitrogen synthesis. Proper precursors and substrates are important in order to increase products, which are necessary for further exploitation of polymeric nitrogen. With better understanding of the mechanism of plasma treatment, it will have wider applications.